CNN angered monarchists on Saturday by referring to Harry and Meghan by name – only to dismiss Prince William and Kate Middleton as ‘the other two royals’ moments later.
Scott McLean, CNN’s international correspondent based in London, made the gaffe while reporting on the newly-promoted Prince and Princess of Wales’ and Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s surprise joint walkabout in Windsor Saturday, two days after Queen Elizabeth died aged 96.
McLean, who is Canadian, described the quartet getting out of a car: ‘You can see Harry get out first and then you saw Meghan and then the other two royals as well’
The King ordered his warring sons to set aside their ongoing feud ahead of the Queen’s funeral, leading the pair to reunite publicly for the first time in more than a year, it was last night revealed.
Viewers took umbrage with what they saw, despite McLean being from the US’ neighbor to the north, as Americans and an American network being disrespectful of the royals.
King Charles III ordered his warring sons to set aside their ongoing feud ahead of the Queen’s funeral, leading the pair to reunite publicly for the first time in more than a year, it was last night revealed
The new Prince and Princess of Wales look sombre as they prepare to face the public and look upon the enormous floral tribute laid out in tribute to Her Majesty the Queen
Scott McLean, CNN’s international correspondent based in London, was reporting from the city in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s death
McLean, who is Canadian, described the quartet getting out of a car: ‘You can see Harry get out first and then you saw Meghan and then the other two royals as well’
One viewer correctly pointed out: ‘The other two royals, being the heir to the throne and his wife the Princess of Wales, who will be Queen’ before bemoaning the ‘state of CNN.’
William is now heir to the throne after his father Charles was crowned King Charles III. Harry is fifth in line to the throne.
Another called it ‘disrespectful’ and added that ‘the comments from the Sussex fan club are ridiculous.’
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is seen gazing at Kate, the new Princess of Wales, as the four admire the floral tributes to the Queen
A third chided CNN for what they felt was the network treating the royals like an episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians.
One more tweeter called the coverage ‘shocking’ from the network, which has been trying to make serious changes in the post-Jeff Zucker era, asking for less opinion-based content.
‘What happened to unbiased journalism? Shocking,’ they wrote.
The reaction wasn’t entirely negative, as one presumably American Twitter user made clear.
‘God bless America,’ they wrote, which several bald eagle and United States flag emojis to follow.
Another pointed out that McLean likely had no idea he’d intended to or even caused any offense.
‘American media are so unserious,’ they remarked. ‘He wasn’t even trying to be petty. As far as he’s concerned, he’s done nothing wrong.’
The user punctuated their statement with several of the ‘crying laughing’ emojis.
Royal sources say Prince William attempted to bury the hatchet by extending an ’11th-hour olive branch’ to his younger brother Prince Harry, by asking him to join him on a walkabout outside Windsor Castle following a phone call with his father Charles.
In a scene that clearly delighted royal fans, who had come in their hundreds to the gates of the Windsor estate to mourn the Queen’s death, William and Harry walked out side-by-side with wives Kate and Meghan.
The two couples went on a 40-minute walkabout inspecting the sea of floral tributes laid outside the gates of the royal estate in honor of the much-loved monarch.
Experts predict the moment could provide a turning point in the frayed relationship between the newly-titled Waleses, and the Sussexes, who have been at odds following a series of damaging interviews by Harry and Meghan.
Royal sources say Prince William extended an ’11th-hour olive branch’ to his young brother Prince Harry by asking him to join him on a walkabout (pictured) outside Windsor Castle following a phone call with his father Charles
In a scene which delighted royal fans, who had come to the gates of the Windsor estate mourn the Queen’s death, William and Harry walked out side-by-side wives Kate and Meghan (pictured)
King Charles III greets members of the public outside Clarence House, London, after he was formally proclaimed monarch by the Privy Council, and held audiences at Buckingham Palace
The Montecito, California-based Sussexes were consequently in the UK on a pseudo royal tour when the Queen’s health suddenly deteriorated on Thursday.
It is believed the Sussexes had not previously made any plans to meet with the Waleses, despite staying in Frogmore Cottage, just 700 yards from William and Kate’s Adelaide Cottage. However both William and Harry raced to Balmoral on Thursday after it became clear the Queen’s health was faltering.
A Kensington Palace spokesperson said that the Prince of Wales had invited the Sussexes to join him and the Princess of Wales during yesterday evening’s walkabout.
However, according to The Times, the camps required extended negotiations beforehand which delayed their arrival by 45 minutes.
A senior Palace source said: ‘The Prince of Wales invited the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to join him and the Princess of Wales earlier.
‘The Prince of Wales thought it was an important show of unity for the Queen at an incredibly difficult time for the family.’
The Prince and Princess of Wales view the tributes left after the Death of Queen Elizabeth II, at Windsor Castle
The Sussexes’ friend and preferred journalist Omid Scobie later claimed on Twitter that the invitation was made at the ’11th hour’.
However, hinting that William is prepared to extend Harry an olive branch and work towards melting the ice between them, he declared: ‘It is, without a doubt, a significant moment in the history of the relationship between the two brothers’.
Yesterday’s surprise appearance is thought to be the first time that the two couples have all been in public together since Commonwealth Day on March 9, 2020.
And it is the first time William and Harry have been seen together in public since they joined for the opening of the memorial in honor of their mother, Princess Diana.
Harry and Meghan, who sensationally quit frontline duties two years ago to strike out on their own in California and then levied a series of bombshell allegations against The Firm, held hands as they looked at the tributes, with Harry at one point affectionately putting his hand on Meghan’s back. They were seen pointing at different tributes and discussing them as members of the crowd waved at them.
King Charles III’s sons Harry and William inspecting floral tributes at Windsor Castle yesterday evening
William and Harry are seen conversing as they reunite to mourn their grandmother, the Queen
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex view the tributes left at Windsor Castle after the death of Queen Elizabeth II
The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex outside the gates of Windsor Castle
William, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince Harry and Meghan walk outside Windsor Castle
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex view the floral tributes for the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Windsor Castle
The Prince and Princess of Wales view the tributes left after the Death of Queen Elizabeth II, at Windsor Castle
Experts predict the moment could prove a turning point in the frayed relationship between newly-titled Waleses and the Sussexes (pictured here together in 2020), who have been at odds following a number of damaging interviews by Harry and Meghan about the royals
At one moment, a small Paddington Bear toy was given to William, which he passed on to an aide. He was seen lightly touching Kate’s back at one poignant moment. At one point Kate crouched down and began speaking to a child who had started to cry. The child stopped crying when Kate approached her.
One well-wisher said Kate ‘welled up’ as she told children that her youngest son Louis – who stole the hearts of the nation during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations – consoled her by telling her: ‘At least Grannie is with great grandpa now.’
Another royal fan who spoke to Harry and Meghan told MailOnline: ‘It’s lovely to see them both together. Maybe they can get back to a proper relationship. A lovely ripple went through the crowd as they approached. Hopefully, the healing between Harry and his brother can start now. I’m just so excited to have seen them both together. It’s lovely.’
Another added: ‘It might build some bridges. It might have been the Queen’s wish.’ And one girl, who hugged Meghan during the walkabout, said she was pleased to see the Waleses and the Sussexes back together again.
Just moments earlier, the Prince of Wales paid an emotional tribute to his late ‘Grannie’, describing the beloved monarch as an ‘extraordinary leader, whose commitment to the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth was absolute’ and admitting it would be ‘some time’ before her loss ‘will truly feel real.’