Prince Harry has never posed as a deep thinker, but his paean to “banter” written from his mansion in Montecito is beyond a joke, says Eliot Wilson

If immigration is one of the most contentious subjects in contemporary British politics, then British identity is in turn one of its knottiest elements. What does it mean to be British? What are our values and characteristics? Where do they come from? These are difficult questions to which too often people give glib, partial or divisive answers.

With Remembrance Sunday just passed and Armistice Day being commemorated tomorrow, we have a new contribution to the discourse. Last week Prince Harry published a short passage entitled The Bond, The Banter, The Bravery: What it means to be British, in which he tried to link the ceremonies of remembrance with a shared culture and sense of national self. It is not altogether successful.

Inevitably, given his background, the Duke of Sussex sees the question through a primarily military lens. He is a former officer in the Blues and Royals, serving in the army for 10 years, including two operational tours in Afghanistan. Harry is genuinely passionate about the welfare of ex-service personnel, especially those who have been injured: this led........

© City A.M.