A real debate was sparked, with critical comments and replies in defense, by the shot released by Meghan Markle that portrays her husband Prince Harry sitting on a boat tenderly hugging his daughter, Princess Lilibet. In apparent violation of California regulations for children under the age of 13 who are on board moving boats, the child is not wearing a life jacket, it was pointed out in several comments on the report released on International Women’s Day. In the image, Harry — wearing shorts and a baseball cap — is seen holding the 3-year-old girl, wearing leggings and a T-shirt but no life jacket.
The online debate has particularly touched on the issue of parental responsibility and that of the regulations in force in the American state on life jackets, which — it is specified — must comply with the US Coast Guard regulations, be in good condition and suitable for the activity to be carried out, regardless of the size of the swimmer, except for some exceptions related to particular boats, staying in the cabin or exceptional situations.
The failure to comply with these rules can potentially lead to legal consequences for boat operators, underlines the GbNews website, which does not fail to point out, however, that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are known to be very attentive parents with Lilibet and older brother Archie and does not rule out that the boat may have been moored at the time of the photograph.
Despite this, underlines the site, which has tried to contact the Sussexes for comment, the reactions of users have also been very alarmed.
“A child on a boat without a life jacket makes me shudder. We have had several cases of drowning in our state for this very reason,” wrote one reader.
“How irresponsible. Even pet owners put life jackets on their puppies when they go boating,” added another. But many defended the couple, suggesting that the circumstances may be different from how they appear.
—Adnkronos International, Rome (TNS)
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