Prince Harry has sparked anger among animal campaigners after enjoying an American rodeo.
The Duke of Sussex's attendance at the weekend came despite his wife's longtime animal rights activism.
Dressed looking like Indiana Jones, Harry was pictured attending the Stockyards Rodeo event in Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday.
The backlash began after the Sussex's friend and unofficial biographer Omid Scobie tweeted a picture of the royal at the event.
"Living his best American life, Prince Harry was in Fort Worth, Texas this weekend and spent Saturday at the historic Cowtown Coliseum for the famous Stockyards Rodeo," he wrote.
"The duke was spotted by locals enjoying some good ol' Southern hospitality and a VIP tour of the venue."
The move backfired, alerting animal campaigners and sparking criticism from social media users.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals - better known as PETA - told the Mirror: “It’s extremely disappointing to see that Prince Harry made the misjudgment to attend a rodeo, a crude, old amusement for bored cowboys who view animals as nothing more than things.
“In these events, participants use electric prods, flank straps, and spurs to burn, wound, terrorise, and provoke animals who are trying to flee for their lives.
"Animals commonly sustain broken bones, punctured lungs, snapped necks, or torn muscles, and they sometimes die in an arena - and even those who don’t end up scared out of their wits at a slaughterhouse—so anyone who cares about animals should avoid these spectacles of suffering.”
One Twitter user wrote responding to Scobie's picture write: "It really is cruel. I'd wish they'd ban the damned things."
“Prince Harry’s support for the rodeo is profoundly disappointing,” added Chris DeRose, Founder and President of Last Chance for Animals.
“Given the Duchess’ activism on animal rights issues, it’s inconceivable the Prince would find the abuse perpetrated by the rodeo to be entertaining.
"We encourage Prince Harry to learn more about the Tools of Terror used in bull riding. His ignorance and naivete only undermine the Duchess’ tremendous legacy and work to end animal cruelty.”
Last Chance for Animals currently has a petition calling for a ban on rodeos.
The non-profit said of such rodeos: "Stand-alone bull riding events glorify animal abuse as they masquerade as family entertainment.
"For example, horses and bulls do not buck naturally. These are scared animals bucking to escape torture devices commonplace at rodeos, such as electric prods, flank straps, and spurs.
"Afterwards, animal injuries can be numerous; broken bones, ripped tendons, torn ligaments, and snapped necks.
"Animal abuse has no place, and our laws must be changed to reflect empathy for animals. The rodeo ban can be a victory, but your voice is needed."
Former bull rider-turned-trainer Cory Melton, who attended Saturday's event, had posted and deleted the same image of the Duke, Scobie had tweeted.
He claimed Harry, 37, made a joke about his ability to compete at the rodeo.
"Prince Harry hanging out at the rodeo this week... We get a lot of rodeo royalty, but this is the first prince I've seen," Cory's company Melton Bull Co said.
"Said he was going to enter the bull riding, but the airline lost his rigging bag…."
Stockyards Championship Rodeo secretary Cindy Reid took to her Facebook page to commemorate the Duke's attendance.
"Where was Prince Harry Saturday night? Oooooh, just hanging out behind the bucking chutes at the Stockyards Championship Rodeo. Loooove it. Thank you for the visit," she wrote.
Today the post appeared to have been deleted.
Previously Meghan, an avowed animal rights activist, reportedly convinced Harry to quit his much-loved hunting hobby in 2018.
It has been claimed she allegedly urged him to begin skipping the royal family's historic annual hunts.
Her dislike of hunting is believed to have first caused issues within the royal family in 2017 when Harry reportedly took part in a wild boar hunt in Germany.
Realising his then-girlfriend "wasn't happy," the Prince was reported to have declined to join the royal family's Boxing Day hunt that year.
He has not been seen since at such an event.
In May 2020, it was reported Harry sold a pair of Purdey hunting rifles, thought to be worth around £50,000, in a private deal before the couple quit the UK for Canada and later moved to the US.
Meghan, a patron of the London-based Mayhew Trust animal charity, often speaks out about animal rights and ending animal cruelty.
She once undertook a "secret" trip to the sanctuary for cats and dogs in January 2020 before leaving the UK for Canada.
After, Mayhew's media officer, Sarah Hastelow said Meghan has "been such a champion of animals and animal welfare. It's always been a passion of hers."
