Prince Harry explained that concerns over his security prompted the late announcement of his trip to Canada, despite overlapping with his brother Prince William’s visit to Brazil. This sparked speculation about Harry overshadowing William.
Prince William, 43, arrived in Brazil for a five-day royal tour timed with the Earthshot Prize ceremony. One day later, Harry’s team announced his visit to Canada, a pseudo-royal event involving military veterans.
Observers note that Harry and Meghan Markle have repeatedly planned trips clashing with the official royal family’s events, often seen as an attempt to draw attention away from them.
"The events were planned nearly a year ago," a spokesperson for Harry stated regarding the Canadian trip.
Harry, 40, and Meghan, 44, left royal duties in 2020 but continue to attract scrutiny for their public appearances. William had revealed in April that Rio de Janeiro would host the 2025 Earthshot Prize ceremony in June, during which he made headlines for his appearance on a tour.
Prince Harry attributes his late trip announcement to security concerns, denying any intention to upstage Prince William despite overlapping schedules and public speculation.
Author’s note: Prince Harry’s repeated coinciding visits with royal family events continue to fuel perceptions of rivalry, despite his stated security reasons.