The Harkles made an appearance in Jamaica at the Bob Marley: One Love film premiere on 23 January 2024, a mere few days after Harold’s low level aviation awards event where it seems he thought he was too good to walk the red carpet. Allegedly, TW didn’t attend due to an apparent sick child—perhaps she was busy seeking the invisible child? She wasn’t able to travel a hour by car to Los Angeles, but was able to fly to Jamaica 48 hours later, so how sick was the ‘child’ if that was the case?
This time the duo were happy and eager to walk the red carpet and to barge in on others who were posing for photos. Most notably, the duo appear to have ‘gatecrashed’ the photos of Paramount CEO, Brian Robbins and his wife Tracy James, and the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness and his wife Juliet. TW can’t play the race card here as Tracy James is black, and it looked as if the duo were ushered in quickly for a photo before the others left.
I’ve put together a montage of several clips that have circulated over the past few days. While it has amused many, it’s clear the Harkles have been mocked and laughed at, especially when the duo weren’t even seated with the VIPs, but about 10 rows back, with no sight of any free popcorn or even a bottle of water either, so definitely no goody bag!
Context is everything, and while photos only give a limited impression it does appear as if the duo sort of barged in on Robbins and his wife while they were having their photos taken, leaving them no choice but to pose for a few photos with the Harkles. Poor Harold had to squeeze into the backdrop for photos with the border leaves mingling in what hair he has (you can see him just on the edge), and The Claw attempted to ingratiate herself with Tracy James by putting the claw around her waist. James did not move to make room for Harold who looked squashed in, nor did she reciprocate TW’s claw attack either, and it was a class act by the couple on how to be polite but to show they didn’t know the Harkles and had no interest in them either without an acknowledgement or look as they walked away.
The Harkles had to wait for Robbins and his wife to leave, and there was that awkward moment of silence when the Harkles looked sheepish as they followed them— they may have had the red carpet entrance, but it was all for show and lasted less than a minute. The next photo opportunity came with the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness and his wife, whom the media label as an anti-monarchist as he is seeking steps for Jamaica to leave the Commonwealth to become a republic. This time, TW had to squeeze in to get into the photo.
Are there political and diplomatic issues with the duo meeting with the Prime Minister of Jamaica? Even the fence sitters and people who have had no opinion on the Harkles before believe that they may have created tensions during in what can only be described as a politically sensitive and fragile time for the future of the Commonwealth. While I have called upon the ducal titles to be stripped or restricted for years due to the fact they were being abused for financial gain, more people are realising why there is a need for the titles to be removed when it interferes with the stability of the monarchy.
While we all know that the duo did not represent the British Royal Family when they appeared in Jamaica with the Prime Minister, the external optics for those unaware of the self-exiled duo and their antics could lead to them appearing to be members of the RF visiting Jamaica. Now, if they arrived as Harry and Meghan Windsor, then there would not be an issue, but they chose to use the ducal titles which stem from the RF. One can draw comparisons with Edward VIII, and Wallis Simpson (the Duke and Duchess of Windsor) who chose to visit and befriend unwise company during the Second World War, especially when it came to Hitler. The difference is that the government were aware of these acts and had teams of covert operatives watching the couple, and Edward had been a former Sovereign so he had already relinquished a title and the ducal title was a comedown for him. The government also chose to act, and gave Edward no choice but to abdicate if he wished to marry Wallis. Unfortunately, the current government in an election year is too focused on retaining power than to do what is best for the country or the monarchy, although there are a few decent MPs whose voices may have been silenced.
At the screening, many people were dressed casually and so for TW to turn up in a ball gown skirt, I imagine most people around her were giggling, especially when she went to sit in a fold up cinema seat. Later, we see her ‘talking at’ Harold, and he gets up and leaves with his security in tow leaving TW alone with no one to speak to. Perhaps he was sent to get the free popcorn, but I imagine that she told him to try and get them moved to the VIP seats—they did not move seats, but I’m sure she tried as she didn’t look happy with the seat she had been shown to.
Reports that claim that they were invited guests don’t appear to correlate with them not being seated with the VIPs, and were shown to a row of seats with normal looking people (wearing baseball caps, t-shirts, and casual clothing) who sat in front and behind them. I wonder how scared Harold must have felt, being in a room with little protection and on an island known for a great deal of criminal activity?
Upon leaving, it looks as if everyone left together but in more practical terms it was more than likely the pick up area for cars. In the video there is the awkward time where everyone waits hoping that their car comes first, making small talk, but no one speaks to either of the duo and that’s when The Claw comes out as Harold is groped for the cameras, but also because all seemed to avoid her.
The Daily Telegraph was once a reputable newspaper, and one cannot understand why they put the Harkles and the story of them attending a film premiere in Jamaica on the front page when Ukrainian prisoners of war had been killed in an air incident en route to a prisoner exchange. For those not following the war in Ukraine, that is a possible act of escalation that could lead to a world war, and is news that the newspaper should be reporting on.
Later, reports claim that the Harkles had arrived in Jamaica on a private jet the day before after not being invited to Jeff Bezos’s 60th birthday party over the weekend. Guests included faux pals Oprah, Beyonce, and Katy Perry and of course some Kardashians. How much longer can Harold keep trying to justify his use of private planes and claim to be a pioneer of eco-friendly travelling? Other claims are that Paramount wanted publicity for the film and so ‘hired’ the Harkles for some PR, but who would be stupid enough to do that given that all the PR they have generated has left to companies being ‘harkled’ or ‘markled’?
Was the visit to Jamaica an attempt get their foot back in the Commonwealth, after all when they acquired the Sussex title, TW more or less stated that she expected to be ‘ruling’ the Commonwealth with the given roles. Remember, the duo continued to use their Commonwealth roles during their exit in order to promote their brand, even though they were told they no longer represented the Crown during that period. They only stopped once the late Queen finally removed all roles from them a year later.
What this appearance does show is that the Harkles are desperate for attention and that they demand to be treated as royalty and expect to be given preferential treatment due to their titles. Hopefully their appearance will not overshadow the biopic, ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ film, but where was there PR entourage (no sign of Ashley Hansen)? Perhaps Archewell couldn’t justify the expenses, or have more Archewell staff joined the Sussex survivors club ?
