Prince Harry condemns antisemitism surge in Britain as duke reflects on ‘past mistakes’

Prince Harry has penned an opinion piece addressing the "deeply troubling" surge in antisemitism across Britain.

The Duke of Sussex pointed to recent deadly attacks on Jewish communities in both Manchester and London as evidence of the growing threat.

He argued that remaining silent in the face of such hatred allows "hate and extremism to flourish unchecked".

In the piece for The New Statesman, Harry drew a clear distinction between protest and prejudice, writing that "hatred directed at people for who they are, or what they believe, is not protest. It is prejudice".

The duke acknowledged the "deep and justified alarm" felt by many over the scale of destruction in Gaza and Lebanon, but maintained that people must direct their anger with greater precision.

"We have seen how legitimate protest against state actions in the Middle East does exist alongside hostility toward Jewish communities at home just as we have also seen how criticism of those actions can be too easily dismissed or mischaracterised," he wrote.

Harry emphasised that the responsibility for state actions lies with Governments, not entire populations or faiths.

"Nothing, whether criticism of a government or the reality of violence and destruction, can ever justify hostility toward an entire people or faith," he added.

Harry reflected on his own history, acknowledging he had learned from "past mistakes" - a reference that recalls the controversy when he was photographed in a Nazi uniform at a fancy dress party in January 2005, aged 20.

The duke also took aim at media coverage following the recent wave of antisemitic incidents, criticising what he sees as a lack of nuance in public discourse.

He lamented the increasingly polarised nature of debate, arguing that such division only deepens confusion and "fuels division".

Throughout the piece, Harry referred to "the state" when discussing Middle Eastern conflicts but avoided naming Israel directly.

LATEST ROYAL NEWS:

• Jamaica’s republic push grinds to a halt four years after Waleses’ tour
• Pippa and James Matthews speak out after ruling in bitter £15.5m footpath fight
• Eugenie’s charity under compliance review over ‘concerns about spending’

Harry concluded his piece with a plea for unity, urging readers to oppose both antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred "wherever it appears".

"When anger is turned towards communities - whether Jewish, Muslim, or any other - it ceases to be a call for justice and becomes something far more corrosive," he wrote.

On the same day, Prince William also addressed the issue during an investiture ceremony at which Dr Bea Lewkowicz, daughter of Holocaust survivors, received an OBE.

Dr Lewkowicz said that the Prince of Wales stressed the importance of preserving truth, particularly given "Holocaust distortion and rising antisemitism" in the digital age.