What Sizzling Story Is That?

Rupert Murdoch's news empire's revelations of sinister methods undertaken to obtain news scoops provided ample entertainment for the British reading public for a good while.  It also pointed out just how close relations were between government and that news empire's highest paid directors.  And the fallout from disclosure and denunciation of illegal and immoral practises in the production of news snooping at the lowest level for the lowest common denominator resulted in a pall being cast over the gathering and publishing of tabloid-style news.

The Royal Family was fair game, even if unfair investigative methods and underhanded tactics were used, up until the unfolding debacle of News of the World.  And there were enough scandals to keep the tabloids thanking their lucky stars that the younger cohort of the British Royal Families, Windsor Incorporated, were bent on behaving in a rather cheeky manner, letting their sexuality hang out for all to appraise and muse over endlessly.

Queen Elizabeth II was decidedly not amused.  She was appalled, and chagrined and bemoaned her 'annus horribilis'.  Much of the scandals centered largely around the antics of her daughter-in-law, named by some the Princess of Tarts, seen by far many others as a sympathetic and vulnerable, and hugely wronged figure of tragic, albeit wayward proportions.

And here, by Jove, is her younger son, whooping it up in a style she never quite mastered, although she was no slouch at garnering the attention of her adoring public.  Her son, Prince Harry, is equally adored and evidently equally endowed with poor judgement and a penchant for public display, even in matters where the public should be firmly excluded.

Millions of people have viewed Prince Harry having a lark, buck naked, astride a young woman equally unclad, disporting themselves happily, but not as privately as should have been done.  The young man's minders were obviously busy with their own affairs, or quite simply disinterested in proffering sage counsel to a man of 27 who really should be mature enough to understand that as a symbol of royalty, third in succession to the Crown, and in respect of his grandmother, discretion is truly the better part of display.

"We are not against [Prince Harry] letting his hair down once in a while.  For us this is about the freedom of the press", explained managing editor of The Sun.  "We've thought long and hard about this.  The Sun is a responsible paper it works closely with the Royal family.  We take heed of their wishes."  However, doing proper service to the public, which has already been exposed to the excess of joy expressed by Harry, was paramount.

Who can blame them?  There was, after all, no religious fatwa proclaimed against the publication of details already well enough known.  One of Harry's guests in his private Las Vegas hotel suite took some incriminating photos, and then distributed them.  Just in fun.  To prove what a delightful chap Harry is.  Somewhat lacking in self-discipline perhaps, but a barrel of laughs.

Disporting himself, recalling how much fun old Henry VIII had, and he was king, for heaven's sake.

The Sun; DANIEL SORABJI/AFP/GettyImages “Today The Sun is publishing the make Prince Harry party pictures our readers have been prevented from seeing in print," reads an explanation on Friday's cover. "We are doing so despite warnings from the Royal Family’s lawyers," it reads.