Outrage as Irish Prime Minister’s partner Leo Varadkar compares King Charles coronation to Harry Potter in ‘very insulting social media posts’
- Matt Barret has been accused of ’embarrassing’ his country in Instagram posts
The Irish Prime Minister’s boyfriend Leo Varadkar has caused outrage after he compared Charles’ coronation to Harry Potter in ‘very insulting’ social media posts.
Matt Barrett has been accused of ’embarrassing’ his country in posts made to his private Instagram account during the historic service.
In one article, Mr Barrett posted a picture of a newly crowned Charles wearing St Edward’s crown and compared it to the sorting hat in Harry Potter.
“I really half expected him to scream ‘GRYFINDOR,'” he wrote.
A week after the event, Irish designer Paul Costelloe, who has royal ties, condemned the social media posts as “very embarrassing” and “very insulting” to Irish people, according to The telegraph.
Matt Barrett (right), the boyfriend of Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar (centre) has caused outrage after he compared Charles’ coronation to Harry Potter in ‘very insulting’ social media posts
In one article, Mr Barrett posted a picture of a newly crowned Charles wearing St Edward’s crown and compared it to the sorting hat in Harry Potter. “I really half expected him to scream ‘GRYFFINDOR’,” he wrote.
The messages included a photo taken from inside the Taoiseach’s car as he was in the VIP motorcade leading to the coronation ceremony, alongside which he wrote: “Holy s —, I think I am accidentally crowned King of England.”
While at Westminster Abbey, Dr Barrett also posted posts referencing the official order of service and mocking the wording.
An entry explained what happened between the Queen’s coronation and her enthronement, during which she would be presented with regalia.
Mr Barrett quoted the liturgy, before adding the comment: ‘Sounds like the script of a good night, tbh.’
Mr Costelloe, who worked as a personal designer for Princess Diana from 1983 until her death in 1997, told the Sunday Independent that Dr Barrett should apologize publicly.
Mr Barrett has been accused of ’embarrassing’ his country in messages posted to his private Instagram account during the historic service
King Charles was crowned with St Edward’s Crown by the Archbishop of Canterbury
“They should have turned off their phone before entering and Leo should have told him to put his phone away,” he said.
Speaking to the Sunday Independent, he said: ‘For people living here it puts you in a very embarrassing situation.
“I think it’s terribly difficult to find excuses for this kind of behavior. You can say it’s fun and all, but you can’t do that kind of thing.
Sinn Fein’s designate First Minister for Northern Ireland, also a guest at the ceremony, said ahead of the event that she intended to establish “good relations between the people of these islands”.
