The Invictus Games must distance themselves from Prince Harry after his ‘insensitive’ Taliban revelations threatened to damage the Army’s reputation, a public relations guru has warned.
Publicist Lynne Franks said the Duke of Sussex’s decision to reveal that he had killed 25 extremists while serving in Afghanistan “made him look like a complete idiot.”
Veterans and military chiefs reacted furiously when Harry’s ‘body count’ was revealed when copies of his Spare memoirs accidentally went on sale in Spain last week, saying it created a security risk at the upcoming Invictus tournament. .
Franks said he feared the fallout from the book would affect the Games, the international sports competition for injured, injured and sick veterans founded by Harry in 2014.
Publicist Lynne Franks said she feared the fallout from the book would affect the Games, the international sports competition for injured, injured and sick veterans founded by Harry in 2014. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will attend the games in the Netherlands in 2022.
Harry’s claims, including that he viewed Taliban fighters as “chess pieces” during operations, drew the ire of the Military community.
She added: “The revelations have done Harry and the Military no favours… they have made him look like a complete idiot.”
‘The Invictus Games is the best thing he’s ever done, so it would be a tragedy if his book affected them in any way. Would you advise them to distance themselves from Harry? For now I would.
‘I wouldn’t completely isolate him, I hope some bridges can be built, like with his family. There is a lot of healing to be done. But this is definitely not the right kind of advertising. His advisers should have been thinking about what this would do to the future ‘Harry brand’, and not about making a quick buck.’
Harry’s claims, including that he viewed Taliban fighters as “chess pieces” during operations, drew the ire of the Military community.
“His advisers should have been thinking about what this would do to the future ‘Harry brand’, and not make a quick buck,” added public relations expert Lynne Franks.
Ben McBean, a former Royal Marine and a friend of the prince, said: “Revealing certain information [is not] intelligent. Now obviously there is a backlash. It means we’re talking about the book, but for the wrong reasons.
Tobias Ellwood, a Conservative MP and former army captain, urged Harry to “clarify that it was unwise to make such comments” which were “out of step” with military behaviour.
Harry remains the sponsor of the Games and attended last year’s competition with his wife, Meghan.
