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Prince Harry criticised after claiming coronavirus crisis is not as bad as public are being told

Prince Harry has faced condemnation after claiming Britain's coronavirus crisis is not as bad as the public are being told.

In an interview with the Declassifed podcast, the Duke of Sussex said that things in the UK are "better than we are led to believe through ­certain corners of the media".

His remarks were labelled "outrageous" by Professor Karol Sikora, who asked: "What are his qualifications for making these comments — other than deserting his country in its hour of need?"

Speaking on the podcast, Harry said: "I think what has happened especially in the UK is the very best of the human spirit and it's proving that things are better than we are led to believe through certain corners of the media.

"Certainly when you're in isolation it can be very worrying when you're sitting there and the only information you're getting is from certain news channels, but then if you're out and about and you're on the right platforms you can really sense this human spirit coming to the forefront."

Prof Sikora, who is a former Downing Street adviser, told The Sun: "I think these remarks are outrageous.

"As for the media, I really don't understand what Harry's beef is. Journalists have been reporting the facts and have been doing great work in holding the Government to account.

"The media has also championed the NHS and become a key ally of doctors, nurses and key workers. They should be applauded, not vilified."

Piers Morgan tweeted: "Prince Harry, from his Hollywood mansion, accusing the media of exaggerating the scale of this crisis in Britain is contemptible. It's the media that is exposing the real scale of it as our death toll rockets to highest in Europe & over 60 health workers have now died."