Prince Harry calls life under Covid ‘these isolated times’ as he speaks from a California mansion to pay tribute to England’s rugby union team and the fun that sport brings
- The 36-year-old Duke of Sussex made a short film on the occasion of 150 years of rugby in England
- The Royal, which is a huge fan of the sport, made reference to the world under Covid-19
- He added that he and millions of others had found ‘comfort’ in watching teams play
Prince Harry described life under the coronavirus as ‘these isolated times’ tonight as he marked 150 years of England Rugby.
The Duke of Sussex, 36, appeared at the start of a movie online to pay tribute to the sport in footage shot at his Montecito mansion.
In the now familiar pose sat on his sofa in front of three nest paintings, the matching Royal spoke of the “passion and pleasure” of sport.
He said: ‘Rugby union has brought joy to millions of people with teams full of great characters and special players.
In these … isolated times, the sheer passion and pleasure that sport offers can bring many comfort.
“As a proud patron of the Rugby Football Union, I celebrate 150 years of rugby in England with millions of supporters around the world.”
Speaking for England and Scotland, Harry marked rugby’s oldest international rivalry when they met in Twickenham on Saturday.
The game marks the 150th anniversary of the very first Test, which took place on March 27, 1871 in Edinburgh.
Harry, who wore a beard, appeared in a video posted on England Rugby’s Twitter account Friday night.
Dressed in a navy blazer and white shirt with the two top buttons open, he looked good for the shoot.
Guy Pelly, Charlie Van Straubenzee, Prince Harry and James Middleton in England v Australia
Harry and Meghan will arrive at the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in March 2020
The film comes just two days after it was claimed he was keen to keep his military honorary titles and spend more time in Britain.
A friend claimed prior to the one-year review of ‘Megxit’ that he wanted to keep the three patronages he had to give up after stepping down from senior royal last March and moving to the US.
The 36-year-old’s titles were Captain General of the Royal Marines; Honorary Air Commander of RAF Honington at Bury St Edmunds; and Commodore-in-Chief, Small Ships and Diving, Royal Naval Command.
Harry’s friend, unnamed, told the Daily Telegraph, “His military work is one of the most important things to him. Of course he wants to keep them. ‘
The Duke would believe he should keep the patronage, as he spent ten years in the military and has ongoing ties to the Invictus Games Foundation.
But it is clear that Harry, who married Meghan Markle in May 2018, may have to give up the titles because he has no intention of returning to royal duties.
The friend added that he had always intended to travel regularly between the US and the UK after moving to California, and only the pandemic forced him to stay there.