Jon Snow slams Matt Hancock in Brexit rant in 2019

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The Duke of Sussex flew back to the UK for Prince Philip’s funeral on Saturday. Having been stripped of his military titles and appointments, Harry was not allowed to wear a military uniform to the service, which may have prompted the Queen to issue her universal uniform ban. Instead, Harry and everyone else wore black suits.

However, the Duke’s commitment to the military is unquestionable and it all stemmed from his 10 years in the Army.

During this time, Harry served on two tours of Afghanistan, but on one tour he was forced to return to the UK early after it got out that he was there, triggering a security risk.

However, Channel 4 journalist Mr Snow praised the Matt Drudge report which released the information, branding the forced silence in the UK “unacceptable”.

In an email to the station’s subscribers, Mr Snow “thanked God” for the US-based website, the Drudge Report, for revealing that Harry ‒ who was third-in-line to the throne at the time ‒ was fighting the Taliban on the frontline.

He said: “I never thought I’d find myself saying thank God for Drudge.

“The infamous US blogger has broken the best kept editorial secret of recent times.

“Editors have been sworn to secrecy over Prince Harry being sent to Afghanistan three months ago.

“Drudge has blown their cover. One wonders whether viewers, readers and listeners will ever want to trust the media again.”

However, his 2008 comments sparked furious backlash from viewers, who described them as “thoughless” and “stupid” with some declaring they would not watch the station again.

Alan Thomas wrote: “I think that Snow’s ‘Thank God for Drudge’ comment was absolutely disgraceful.”

Sue Smith wrote: “I have long admired Channel 4 News and Jon Snow for their independently minded stance.

“However, tonight’s show talking about a ‘conspiracy of silence’ and an email from Jon… is so far beyond the pale I will never watch Channel 4 News again! Ever!

“By these standards you would have been notifying Hitler of all our secrets.”

Several viewers also pointed out that Channel 4 had agreed with the Society of Editors, which negotiated the unprecedented news blackout, not to publicise any details of the prince’s military role until he had returned safely home.

A channel 4 spokeswoman said: “Jon did not know in advance that Channel 4 had agreed not to publicise it.”

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The agreement with the 400 editors was made to avoid endangering not just Prince Harry but other soldiers in his unit, who would have been heavily targeted by the Taliban if they knew he was there.

When Prince Andrew flew helicopters for the Royal Navy in the Falklands War in 1982 there were no reporting restrictions.

More recently, however, the Press Complaints Commission negotiated a voluntary agreement with newspapers that Prince William would be left alone while he was still in full-time education.

While it was reported he had gone to St Andrews University, they were banned from reporting on his time there or taking pictures of him going about his day.

The agreement with the British media on Prince Harry only came to an end when the Drudge Report, which first revealed Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky, disclosed that he was in Afghanistan.

Prince Harry ‘given cold shoulder’ by some royals says expert

The revelations also appeared in the German newspaper Bild and Australian magazine New Idea, despite British and Canadian authorities imposing a blackout.

This meant that Harry had to return to the UK after just 10 weeks.

Eventually, the Ministry of Defence revealed that Harry had been deployed as a Forward Air Controller to Helmand Province.

In return for the blackout, the Ministry of Defence had arranged special access to the prince before, during and after his deployment, which could be reported on when he returned home, without interference from the Royal Family or military except for security reasons.

Bob Satchell, executive director of the Society of Editors, said: “It was an extraordinary and rare display of unity for national and regional newspaper and magazine editors and broadcasters not to report the story.

“In the lengthy discussions about the wisdom and ethics of doing this deal, many editors voiced their concerns.

“They were anxious that it might dilute their future credibility with the public and also some thought Prince Harry should not go at all because of the risk it would bring to bear on his fellow soldiers.

“The consensus was that as Army chiefs had decided the prince would go to war, it would be wrong to put him and his soldier colleagues at extra risk by publicising this deployment in advance.

“It’s not a matter of misleading readers, listeners and viewers.

“In fact, they would get a deeper insight into a new side of Prince Harry from the Press Association reports resulting from the unprecedented access.”

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