THE Queen put on a brave face for her 96th birthday yesterday — as Prince Harry faced a backlash over his comments about her made on American TV.
After telling a US network about his private conversation with his grandmother, the Duke of Sussex suddenly clammed up yesterday and refused to even say if he had wished her a happy birthday.
The stern-faced Prince — who has angered palace staff and been accused of “breathtaking arrogance” by claiming he wants to “protect” the Queen — turned his nose up at journalists as he was driven around the Invictus Games in a golf buggy in the Netherlands.
Facing accusations of a “dreadful breach of trust” he was flanked by his ex-Secret Service and former Obama bodyguard Christopher Sanchez and a vast team of lackeys from his Archewell foundation.
In stark contrast, the stoic Queen marked her 96th birthday by going for a spin in the passenger seat of a Range Rover, driven by a single security guard after flying by helicopter to Sandringham, Norfolk.
Harry looked sulky in dark sunglasses as he whispered to aides while ignoring journalists.
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He turned down the chance to speak about the terrible reaction his NBC interview had received in Britain — or explain what he meant about wanting to “protect” the Queen.
Harry has angered palace staff by leaking conversations from last Thursday’s meeting with Her Majesty, which were broadcast on prime-time US TV.
It is understood he had planned to use the interview to reveal he had been to visit the Queen — but The Celeb Report broke the story last Friday.
An insider said: “His big moment was ruined because The Celeb Report got there first.
“He had to come up with something else to make it worth the TV’s while.
“If he turns up at the Platinum Jubilee, everyone now knows he’ll go away and tell all in the US.
“It would be the most hurtful breach of trust, especially when the Queen tries to maintain a dignified silence about what happens behind closed doors.”
There are fears Harry and Meghan’s actions will overshadow the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
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And Harry has already paved the way to pull out, after telling NBC this week he has not decided whether to attend because of “security issues and everything else”.
Speaking to NBC Today presenter Hoda Kotb earlier this week, he said he “thinks” the Queen is “bored” of all the birthday celebrations.
