‘Unconscionable’: Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry speak out against invasion of Ukraine

“What we saw in the terrible tragedy in Southend was an attack on democracy, on an open society, on freedom itself,” the prince said. “We are seeing those same values under attack today in Ukraine in the most unconscionable way. In the stand we take here, we are in solidarity with all those who are resisting brutal aggression.”

Charles and his wife, Duchess Camilla of Cornwall, were in Southend-on-Sea to mark the community officially becoming a city.

Some British reporters considered Charles’ remarks remarkably explicit in condemning the invasion.

This despite the fact that over his decades serving as as next-in-line to the throne, Charles has occasionally trod the constitutional line about staying mum about political matters – such as, say, his campaign to fight climate change or his complicated relationship with China – and has been strongly criticized for it, too.

© JUSTIN TALLIS, POOL/AFP via Getty Images The Prince of Wales and his wife, Duchess Camilla of Cornwall, pose near the pier during their visit to Southend-on-Sea to mark the community in southeastern England becoming a city, on March 1, 2022.His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, has never crossed that line and so far she has not said anything in public about the invasion of Ukraine. The 95-year-old monarch recently tested positive for COVID-19 but on Tuesday returned to virtual duty by holding audiences to greet ambassadors via video.

Meanwhile, the annual Diplomatic Reception, a fancy annual party for hundreds of diplomats she hosts that was scheduled for Tuesday night, was postponed on the advice of the British Foreign Office.

NEW: Prince Charles becomes first member of the Royal Family to condemn Putin’s invasion of #Ukraine.

The prince called it “brutal aggression” and an attack on democracy and freedom.

“We are seeing those same values under attack today in Ukraine in the most unconscionable way”. pic.twitter.com/AvDyQVycST

— Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) March 1, 2022

But it’s hard to imagine any public figure in the United Kingdom, or indeed anywhere else, being sanguine or silent about the bloodshed caused by the Russian invasion in Ukraine.

In any case, Charles was not the first royal to condemn the invasion.

Harry and Meghan speak out

His younger son, Prince Harry, and his wife, Duchess Meghan of Sussex, spoke out in a post on their Archewell website on Thursday, under the headline, “We Stand With the People of Ukraine.”

“Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and all of us at Archewell stand with the people of Ukraine against this breach of international and humanitarian law and encourage the global community and its leaders to do the same,” their post read.

In October 2020 we had the privilege to meet President Zelenskyy and the First Lady to learn of their hope and optimism for Ukraine’s future.

Today we stand with the President and all of Ukraine’s people as they bravely fight for that future 🇺🇦 W & C

— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) February 26, 2022

Harry and Meghan, who are no longer working royals having moved to California, are regularly criticized on social media and in the British press for expressing their opinions on anything, political or otherwise.

But they are still royals and Harry remains sixth in line to the throne.

Zelenskyy replies to William, Kate on Twitter

Then, on Saturday, Charles’ elder son, Prince William and his wife, Duchess Kate of Cambridge, spoke out in a tweet, recalling their October 2020 meeting with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his first lady, Olena Zelenska.

“In October 2020 we had the privilege to meet President Zelenskyy and the First Lady to learn of their hope and optimism for Ukraine’s future. Today we stand with the President and all of Ukraine’s people as they bravely fight for that future,” the Cambridge tweet read.

There was no criticism on social media or from the tabloids about the Cambridges’ tweet.

Olena and I are grateful to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge @RoyalFamily that at this crucial time, when Ukraine is courageously opposing Russia’s invasion, they stand by our country and support our brave citizens. Good will triumph.

— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 1, 2022

In fact, Zelenskyy, the former comic-turned-president and now wartime hero, thanked Will and Kate in a tweet on Tuesday.

“Olena and I are grateful to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge @RoyalFamily that at this crucial time, when Ukraine is courageously opposing Russia’s invasion, they stand by our country and support our brave citizens. Good will triumph,” the tweet said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ‘Unconscionable’: Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry speak out against invasion of Ukraine