Prince Harry to upstage future king Prince William with new power move and solidify his identity as a royal in America

For years, there have been stories about Meghan Markle stealing Kate Middleton‘s thunder out of spite. And now it looks like Markle’s alleged attention-seeking ways have rubbed off on her husband, Prince Harry, who is said to be planning a new power move to finally upstage his brother, Prince William, the future king of England.

The younger son of King Charles and the late Princess Diana is set to attend the star-studded 22nd annual Living Legends of Aviation ceremony on April 25 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Hosted by Hollywood star John Travolta, the glitzy gala will honor the aerial firefighters who helped put out the Los Angeles wildfires earlier in the year.

However, Harry’s not just playing dress-up for the ceremony. The Duke of Sussex earned his stripes in the aviation community after joining real combat missions in Afghanistan during his time in the British Army. He was even awarded his Flying Wings by King Charles himself in 2010. Unlike most royal titles, Harry’s aviation credentials are legit and not inherited.

But then again, that was more than a decade ago. The duke is no longer a helicopter pilot, and he already received his Living Legend award in 2024, so he doesn’t have a major role in the upcoming program. Still, the father of two is determined to show up at the ceremony since the event will be the perfect venue for him to rub elbows with the A-listers and elites of Hollywood.

Harry’s plan to upstage his brother William

As the heir to the British throne, Prince William continues the slow but surely stately grind of royal engagements in the U.K. Meanwhile, since he stepped down as a senior royal, Harry could no longer be considered the spare since he has fallen below the royal rankings with William and Middleton’s children around. As such, he may be eager to cement himself as the symbolic crown prince of American royal relevance to upstage his brother.

By attending the Living Legend ceremony, Harry can significantly boost his public image by interacting with the big names expected to be there. The Duke of Sussex is tasked to induct some of the honorees alongside Morgan Freeman. The list of inductees includes astronaut Christopher Cassidy and NBC’s Tom Costello. The Polaris Dawn Crew will also receive the inaugural Dr. Buzz Aldrin Space Advancement Award at the gathering. The event can surely give Harry the chance to form new connections and possibly unlock more opportunities for him and his family in the U.S.

More than marking his turf outside the royal family’s sovereignty, Harry’s decision to join the upcoming Living Legend ceremony can also be his way of painting his wife in a good light. Meghan’s been receiving a lot of flak following the release of her new Netflix series and podcast, as well as her lifestyle brand’s naming blunder. Harry’s attendance can revive talks about how he and Markle stepped up to help distribute food and supplies to the wildfire victims, and the same firefighters are to be honored at the event. When viewed this way, it feels like Harry’s pulling off a masterclass of image-building.