The Daily Mail could not let a straight story sit for long. Within two hours of publishing a report on Prince Harry and Meghan Sussex visiting Jordan to meet young refugees displaced by the Gaza war, the headline shifted. Suddenly, the focus was not the Sussexes’ collaboration with the World Health Organization. It was Prince William.
The revised framing read:
“Harry and Meghan embarked on a two-day visit to Jordan – one of Prince William and Kate’s favourite countries – as they also met young Syrian refugees…Prince William tours the Old Town of AlUla during his royal visit to Saudi Arabia on February 11…King Abdullah II and Queen Rania welcome Prince William and Kate to the Zahran Palace in Amman on June 1, 2023…Prince William and Jordanian Crown Prince Hussein watch England’s World Cup match against Panama…”
It was not subtle. A humanitarian visit became a reminder that Jordan is “William’s territory.”
Tabloid Reflex Protects the Heir
The two visits were not alike. Prince Harry and Meghan Sussex travelled to Jordan in partnership with the World Health Organization, with support from the Archewell Foundation. Their programme focused on mental health care for communities affected by conflict and included time at Zaatari Camp, home to more than 80,000 Syrian refugees since 2012.
Their record in the region did not begin with this trip. They have worked with Humanity Crew to provide trauma-informed support in Gaza. They have issued grants to help establish Mental Health Emergency Rooms in Palestine. In September 2025, Archewell confirmed further donations to support medical evacuations from Gaza to Jordan through the WHO and ongoing humanitarian aid.
By contrast, Prince William undertook high-level diplomatic engagements in the Middle East and met regional power brokers, including Mohammed bin Sulayem, a founding partner of the Earthshot Prize. Newly unsealed Epstein-era emails reportedly include a 2009 message in which Sulayem shared a video described in the correspondence as depicting torture, with Jeffrey Epstein replying in a way that appeared to praise the footage. The Mail’s revised Jordan headline did not revisit those links. Instead, it emphasised that Jordan is “a favourite country” of the Waleses.
One visit centred on children drawing at shared tables, music sessions in modest classrooms and football on a fenced pitch. The other revolved around palace receptions and elite alliances. The Daily Mail compressed both into a rivalry frame, even though the substance of the trips could not have been more different.
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The edit diminishes William even as it pushes the Sussexes aside. An heir to the throne should not need to be inserted into unrelated headlines to stay visible. If his diplomacy carries weight, it can stand alone without being attached to a refugee visit hours later.
More to the point, as President of BAFTA, Prince William has not publicly addressed the controversy surrounding the awards. For a future head of state, that absence of comment invites scrutiny.
We were honoured to welcome the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan, to @ZaatariCamp.
— UNHCR Jordan (@UNHCRJordan) February 25, 2026
They met young @refugees at @Questscope's youth centre and joined children in football, art, and music – an uplifting moment for the refugee community.#WithRefugees pic.twitter.com/u8wiQ5GcNK
Meanwhile, the Sussexes met young people at Questscope’s centre, joined music sessions, and spoke with families about trauma and resilience. The images told a clear story. A keyboard balanced against a whiteboard of scales. Children’s artwork pinned to gallery walls. A football match under desert light.
The focus was mental health support in partnership with global health experts. The messaging was simple: service is universal. The Daily Mail tried to turn it into heir management. But readers can see the difference. One headline was edited. The work on the ground was not.
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