Here are some photos of Prince Harry in Rome today, at the little photocall for his charity polo event. He will play polo later today with or against Nacho Figueras, a longtime friend and charitable partner. The polo match will benefit Prince Harry’s charity Sentebale, the Lesotho-based charity which funds a lot of work and support around HIV and AIDS.
This trip is being called Prince Harry’s “first night away” from baby Archie Harrison, but I kind of thought Harry was away from Archie and Meghan overnight just days after Archie’s birth, when Harry went to the Hague to promote the Invictus Games. Harry was gone a full day, but did he stay overnight? Or did he hop a quick flight back to London that evening? He was gone for most of the day for that trip, in any case. So maybe this Rome trip is the first “overnight” one. And as such, people are like “OMG Harry barely took any paternity leave, he’s a terrible father!” I’ll let Nacho slap that down:
WATCH @nachofigueras speaks about Sentebale and new daddy #PrinceHarry and fatherhood pic.twitter.com/PHkmTObVSc
— Carolyn Durand (@CarolynDurand) May 24, 2019
I mean… I’ll admit to thinking “wow, Harry really should be taking more of a paternity leave,” but I also understand that he’s really only stepping out and traveling for his signature charities and patronages. Sentebale and Invictus are his babies too. Plus, can you imagine what the royal reporters would have said if Harry canceled all of his events for two months for paternity leave? The articles would be much worse than “Bad father abandons newborn for a day of charity.”
Photos courtesy of Getty.
Nice response by that gentleman! My husband left for a conference 3 days after our baby was born (6 weeks early) and we both just had to be adults about it and deal. I’m sure everyone will be fine.
A charming guy; sensitivity and strength is sooo sexy!
I met him once. (My ex used to play polo). Very lovely man. Seemed a true gentleman.
My husband is in the Army. I get angry when I hear concern trolling over leaving your child for a day. Some people have no choice but to work, and some people find joy in their careers and won’t give it up just because they became parents. This reporter was obviously trying to get a negative reaction from Nacho. Congratulations Harry and Meghan! You’ve just been parent shamed. Welcome to the club!
Amen to this!
The concern trolling about royal maternity/paternity leave is SO divorced from reality of “non-royal” life. First of all, they do not have jobs at least NOT the way that most of us have jobs. They have duties and engagements and commitments. And if they have to space those out more or take a break from them, the effect on their livelihood? ZERO. Are they going to miss a rent payment, lose their health insurance, lose their job, be put in financial dire straits if they are not back to “work” by X date? For a lot of people even those with so-called good jobs, that is the reality of parental leave – for those lucky enough to have their employer offer any such thing. At least here in the United States.
The problem is when people tried to point out that maybe Kate could work more, especially when she was able to attend day long events at Wimbledon, they get branded anti feminist or haters or whatever. William has even less of an excuse and his workload has only recently slightly bumped up and he is still not at a level of his uncles much less his father, grandmother and aunt.
None of them work real jobs and this use of the term maternity leave only started with Kate to justify no engagements (except Wimbledon of course) for at least six months. This branding tricks the public into thinking they are regular people because of course everyone else needs to work prior to giving birth to qualify for maternity leave. None of the royals would qualify for parental leave using the time the spend at engagements in the year prior. And their income isn’t reduced during the time they are on “leave”.
I’m with you and it’s really not that big of a deal. It’s not as if babies are little roos that you carry around in a pouch. Lots of parents spend time away from their babies. No parent is attached to their baby 24-7. Parents have to take care of other kids, take kids to school, go get groceries, etc.
Come on really….the majority of men are back to work full time the day after the baby is born. More BS from the British Media…don’t they have PM that just resign to focus on!!!
I don’t care about Harry working the very little that he has since Archie was born, but I’m curious about your comment. Is this true? The majority of men go back to work the day after the baby is born?
It’s pretty classist (not you but the people criticizing working fathers) to think most families can afford to have both parents not working for even a few days. If the dad is isn’t a professional or at least in a union he may not even get paid vacation time let alone vacation time that does not have to be scheduled months in advance. Doesn’t mean they are bad fathers, the baby needs shelter, diapers, and food. *in the US* I’m aware Europe is different.
Yes, it’s not uncommon. Much to do about nothing.
In America, most men don’t take paternity leave at all. I know one guy who took a week off but that was because his wife’s mom wasn’t due to arrive for a few days. Most guys I know only take a couple of days off.
Yeah, I think that’s probably accurate. My husband does not have paternity leave and only gets 10 paid days off per year (except weekends) and we will probably need those when I go back to work. Fortunately I get 12 weeks paid.
Even the privileged don’t always get a good time off. Major League Baseball grants its players three days paternity leave.
A majority of companies in the US do not have paid paternity leave. You can use your vacation if you want. Otherwise you aren’t getting paid
My younger sister was born on a Friday and my father was in his office on the following Monday at 8:30 just every other day of his life.
New York State has paid family leave now (we pay into it). You can receive 50% of your pay after you have used your sick time for caring for a child, spouse or parent for an extended time for medical reasons. Birth counts, so both mother and father can receive it.
This is fairly new and for one young couple I know, the father is already getting grief from coworkers for planning to use it after his wife gives birth. They are hoping to pace it out so he has time right after and then use the rest after she goes back to work. There is a gradually increasing duration but I think it’s 10 weeks for this year.
I am glad for anything that helps families out!
I am always so grateful that I was able to stay home with my babies and feel so badly for those who are balancing sleepless nights, nursing, pumping, doctor appointments with work.
Two weeks of paid paternity leave is standard in the UK.
I’m in the UK and it really depends on the man and the job he’s in. They all have their two week entitlement to paternity leave but some men still put career/business first and I do firmly believe it’s a choice, even if they make out it’s not. My children’s dad was back at work the next day with each of them. I know a lot of men who have been the same and yet can easily take time off work sick. That’s not to say all men do though. Plenty take the two weeks off.
I also don’t think Harry should be shamed when it comes to spending a night away. There’s a big difference between doing the odd day, when you know your wife is at home and well supported and someone who goes back to work and carries on as though nothing has changed.
My husband got five days, but that is fairly recent where we live, and up to the company.
In the US a lot of *mothers* don’t get leave, paid or otherwise. You can risk being fired for having a kid.
That’s a travesty!!! And so is your healthcare system. And don’t get me started on Alabama.
Take a look around at what other industrialized countries are doing America and women, vote for candidates whose policies support women!!!
That so called reporter was trying to be messy, but Nacho answered it perfectly.
Harry is spending most of his time at home. The little work he has done has been in and out.
Reporter asking “Any Word from the Mother?” Wtf. Is Meghan supposed to call and complain
Yeah, I think Harry has done a few events around London, but the only events that have involved significant travel are for Invictus and Sentebale, which I think people understand and appreciate. I do think that when we aren’t seeing him, he is with Archie and Meghan.
I think paternity leave is really important, and I think normalizing it is really important, but I don’t necessarily think the royals are the best ones to lead the charge in that area, since the nature of their work and appearances is so different from the average person. Like I’m sure he took a private flight/helicopter to the Hague, so was back home as soon as possible, rather than dealing with the hassles of a commercial flight etc.
Nacho can still get it. Hubba hubba.
Yeah……Harry should not stand directly next to him like that. I think Harry is handsome overall (more so now than years ago), but he does pale in comparison to Nacho.
I co-sign to all of this.
I came for the article. Stayed for the Nacho. Gahh.
Harry, listen, I say this out of LOVE. You’re the hot brother and have a stunning wife and family now and are all grown up. Time to invest in an iron/steamer for your assistants to use on your wardrobe for engagements. You always look nice but rumpled and untidy. And that is just professionalism 101!
My grandmother used to say “only the poor iron linen”. That is, the wrinkles in quality linen are unavoidable and so are actually a marker of quality.
Why would anyone iron linen..exercise in futility
Yes, he and Nacho are wearing basically the same outfit, except that Nacho’s *fits* and is nicely ironed. Get it together, Papa Sussex! You are a prince and you have no excuse for sloppiness.
Nacho’s is clearly not linen.
They’re not wearing the same thing. Nacho isn’t wearing linen. Ironing linen is futile because it by nature doesn’t stiffen well. One of the reason it works, especially in warm weather. It’s so breathable.
I will go with putting every piece of clothing in colour grey away.
SussexRoyal just posted the polo playing pictures. I love how in-depth their Instagram captions are. Kudos to whoever running their account.
They are doing a really nice job.
I didn’t realize Harry co-founded Sentebale in 2006. He was what, 21? 22? That’s pretty impressive for such a young age, even for a royal IMO.
Harry hasn’t gotten his proper due because of the fear of overshadowing William. I’m sure when Meghan came alone she wasn’t going to allow that to happen to Harry anymore! Notice how Harry’s profile has change and how he owns his accomplishments. William has done nothing that comes c!ose to Sentebale or Invictus.
Yes and he did not have to. The Prince’s Trust, Invictus and Sentebale are admirable. I also like Camilla’s and Sophie’s work.
The photos are stunning!!
London to The Hague is a one hour flight. That’s an easy day trip so it’s highly unlikely he was away overnight.
Also, can we send Harry some new shoes? I am so sick of those blue suede shoes LOL
Definitely agree about the shoes, lol! I think he has a matching pair in brown suede too? Love ya Harry, but time to change it up a bit. Although, to be fair, my husband has a lot of shoes but they all seem to be the same style of lace-ups so maybe that’s it, lol!
Loved that Nacho struck that diss down.
In Singapore we have paternity leave and most will take it. We have a very low birth rate anyway so it was one of the measures needed. Nonetheless yes, dads who have to return shouldn’t be judged. They are working for the family. Harry does not have to do the same but he still took time off to attend to his causes. That’s cool. After all he is in a privileged position and he has an intact family unit. Sentebale and Invictus beneficiaries may not have the same so he could be thinking that he is so blessed and tries to make a difference for them.
That’s the first time I’ve heard Nacho speak, it only makes him more attractive!
And now I love Nacho. I bet that reporter wasn’t expecting to get called out on that “assumption”. Very classy way to tell him he’s an arse.
The implication of the question was disgusting! Just because you’re away from your family doesn’t mean you don’t love them. This is why the British Press is getting a bad reputation outside the UK. I bet they will give Ole Bone Spurs softball questions as they kiss his Orange A-hole!
I just hope there will be a follow up post of the gentlemen in their polo gear. Preferably after the match.
Paternity leave? What’s paternity leave? My husband took an hour off work to drive me and the baby home from the hospital and went back to work. In real life people have jobs!
That sounds really tough!! In the UK most fathers get 2 week leave, and I must confess that after two weeks I was feeling upset about my partner going back to work.
My brother in Canada is shared paternal leave and is currently off work for 4 months looking after his daughter.
I see no issue with Harry fulfilling his commitments.
On the one hand, I want to see high profile men taking and endorsing paternity leave. I want it to be a cultural expectation for men. Because until it is, women will continue to be penalized for maternity leave. I want pressure on governments/employers to offer or even require paternity leave.
On the other hand, let’s not pretend he has a real job. It’s not like he’s been in the office every day. He’s had plenty of time at home.
The expression on Nacho’s face said it all – if a facial expression could speak it would have said “You utterly moronic pendejo, f*ck off and never speak to me again.”
(Pendejo means “idiot, stupid, dumbass” in Spanish)
I went through all this thread but haven’t read any “Harry friend talking on his behalf is such a big mistake, this won’t end well” …I’m just shocked. If Serena had said the same about Meghan, on my goodness the din from the comments on here about Meghan’s attention seeking behaviors would be deafening. There’d be countless why Meghan allowing her friends to say anything nice about her? Hasn’t she learned anything about the royal mantra never complain never explain? As usual, anyone else does it, its wonderful, oohh aaahh, the best thing in the world. But Meghan does it? Oh dear Lord, Meghan’ll be the monarchy downfall, Meghan’ll bring the monarchy to an end. SMDH
It’s not as if he’s leaving Meghan and Archie alone, anyway… she has whatever staff they have (housekeeper and cook *at a minimum*, plus whatever the nurse/nanny situation is) to keep them happy and comfortable.
Also, no matter how many times I hear people describe the parental leave situation in the US it still blows my mind. ‘Greatest country in the world’ needs to try harder.