Prince Harry 'snubbed' by Queen in COP26 speech—'he's missed out'

Prince Harry is believed to feel slighted after the Queen failed to mention him in her COP26 speech earlier this week

Prince Harry 'snubbed' by Queen in COP26 speech
(Image credit: Getty)

Prince Harry likely felt dismissed by the Queen's COP26 speech, in which she notably failed to credit him for his environmental work, a royal expert has revealed. 


The Queen's speech at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow on Monday was well received by the public and royal fans alike—but not everybody is believed to be satisfied with her powerful words. 

Her Majesty delivered the 4-minute message via a pre-recorded video from Windsor Castle, after being advised by doctors to rest amid her ongoing health concerns. 

Prince William and Kate Middleton stepped in for the Queen in her absence, mixing with world leaders like Prime Minister Boris Johnson and meeting the finalists of their Earthshot Prize 2021 in person for the first time. Charles and Duchess Camilla also travelled up from their home of Clarence House for COP26, with the Prince of Wales calling for a "war-like" response to the climate emergency at the event's opening ceremony. 

Will and Kate at COP26

(Image credit: Getty)

The Queen was quick to express her gratitude for Charles and William's commitment to tackling the climate crisis, which she believes to be the inheritance of the late Prince Philip's environmental passion. The Duke of Edinburgh had long held a reputation as an eco-warrior, addressing the importance of conservation and sustainability as early as the 1960s. 

"It is a source of great pride to me that the leading role my husband played in encouraging people to protect our fragile planet, lives on through the work of our eldest son Charles and his eldest son William. I could not be more proud of them," the Head of State said. 

It's notable that the Queen failed to mention Prince Harry in her speech, despite being fully aware of his own work in tackling the climate crisis. Just this week, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced that their Archewell Foundation would aim to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. 

"I imagine he could well feel snubbed," royal author Angela Levin told the Mirror. 

"He's missed out on this climate change discussion, which he's trying to work for as well."

The Duke of Sussex has spoken out about the threat of global warming multiple times in the past, showing support for teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg in 2019 and even narrating a special video for Earth Day in April. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were even named environmental role models last month for only having two children, a family-planning decision that contributes to a sustainable human population.

However, it appears these actions are not enough to warrant the Queen's public stamp of approval. Harry's controversial withdrawal as a senior royal with Meghan Markle in early 2020 appears to have severed his chances of remaining on equal footing with his father and older brother, who have now been expected to take on even more responsibilities in light of Her Majesty's declining health. 

"But you can't have it both ways. You can't be independent but part of it—I don't believe he's grasped that," adds Angela. 

"I couldn't see why Harry would be mentioned. He isn't a member of the Royal Family now. He's doing his own thing."

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.

Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.