Prince Harry ‘wants his cake and wants to eat it.’

• Cheers greeted Prince Harry and his wife Meghan outside St Paul´s Cathedral on Friday as they made their first public appearance in Britain for two years.
• But opinions were split among the throng of fans waiting at the London landmark to catch a glimpse of the royals, reflecting a generational divide.
• The couple´s return for Queen Elizabeth II´s Platinum Jubilee celebrations was always going to be watched closely as a test of their popularity.

They stood down as working royals in 2020 and settled in California, and their very public criticisms since have outraged fans of the monarchy.

“They got a really big cheer,” said Ana, a 23-year-old from Mexico studying in the UK, who was watching with a friend.

The pair maintained a quiet profile during the Trooping the Colour procession on Thursday, which kicked off celebrations to honour the queen’s record-breaking 70-year reign.

Ana, on the other hand, thought the “backseat” role was “unfair.” “They should all be treated equally,” she said to AFP.

– ´Old-fashioned´ –

On Thursday, Harry’s grandmother restricted visits on Buckingham Palace’s balcony to “working royals.”

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s sole formal participation in the four-day celebrations was at the St Paul’s service.

“They are members of the royal family,” said Amy Thomas, 17, who travelled to London with her mother from northern England for the ceremony.

“They should be allowed to do something a little different than what the royal family is currently.

“I just think the royal family’s appearance is out of date. They’re simply set in their ways.

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“Everything with Harry and whatever happened. You can see it has to be handled differently, I believe.”

These views contradicted a YouGov survey released this week, which found that over two-thirds of Britons (63 percent) disliked both Harry and Meghan.

However, there is a generational divide. The pair is seen favourably by people aged 18 to 24. More over 60% of those over the age of 65 have an unfavourable opinion.

Gwyneth Cookson, 65, of Motherwell, Scotland, near Glasgow, said she happily shook hands with Meghan at Edinburgh Castle.

“I’m a fan,” Cookson, who was sporting a glittery Union Jack insignia, remarked. She was carrying a toy corgi with her daughter and grandson.

“Perhaps there will be a small reconciliation.”

– ´Not welcome´ –

Other elder royal observers appeared to be chillier.

“I’m not really interested any longer,” said Ruth Horsfield, a retiree coach trip visitor from Lancashire in northwest England.

“I have nothing against them, but they now have their own lives.” They no longer feel a part of it.

“They’ve truly rid themselves of it.” I don’t think they should profit from it.”

“I think they’re simply gradually being forgotten,” her Yorkshire friend Glynis Morgan remarked.

“As long as they don’t rake muck and endanger the queen.”

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Coleen, from the Canadian city of Toronto, where Meghan briefly resided, was clearly not a fan, wearing a purple jubilee T-shirt and matching hat, as well as a Swatch watch portraying the queen and a corgi.

“I don’t think she helped anyone,” she answered gently. “I believe he chose the wrong woman.”

Lorraine Frame from Northern Ireland, who was sitting next to her, interjected: “They have their own agenda.”

“They’re returning because they’re afraid of losing out on something, and they’re not welcome.” I definitely booed them.”

She stated she came specifically for the jubilee, wearing a Union Jack t-shirt and reading a newspaper royal supplement.

“I don’t think they can be trusted because of their relations with Netflix, no matter what they say or don’t say, and I think they should be ashamed. I mean, Harry was raised better “She stated.

She stated that Harry “wants his cake and he wants to devour it.”

Meghan “came into this royal family believing she could change hundreds of years of history and tradition — and she didn’t,” she alleged.

“Give her her day today, and the sooner they return to America, the better.” (AFP)