RUSSELL MYERS: 'I'm in Italy with King Charles - here's why gulf between him and Harry couldn't be wider'

Royal tours are often a hectic business. A relentless schedule bookended by various planes, trains and automobiles. Naturally, for the it's a different scenario than the one faced by lowly correspondents, shuffling around like exchange students on a school trip. But what they lack in travelling panache, they deliver in abundance the ability to witness in real time the so-called of the monarchy.

Whether you are a fan or the , or care not for his office or status, there is no denying his power to bring together communities, nations and ideas, as he has this week. From the global economy, to the scourge of wars in and the Middle East, his crusade on the environment and leaving a better world behind for the next generation, Charles' passion is unmatched.

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I sat in the imposing Chamber of Deputies in Rome, as politicians held on to his every word as the King made history on Wednesday becoming the first British monarch to address the Italian Parliament. The affection Charles is held in by his hosts has been crystal clear and having covered the King's engagements at home and abroad in recent years, I can confidently say he seems more relaxed following his cancer diagnosis last February than I have ever seen him.

Together with the Queen by his side they have genuinely looked like they're having a lot of fun this week. It's no coincidence Camilla yesterday told reporters travelling with them in Italy that the secret to their marriage was "laughing at the same things". I've always thought a sense of humour surrounding the bizarre experience of being herded from one location to another on these trips was the best way to deal with the chaos!

Compare this with the continued hyperbolic language deployed in recent days by Prince Harry via his legal team at the Court of Appeal in his continued fight for taxpayer funded security. For better or worse, Harry chose to leave his role within the royal family in search of a better life for his family by moving to the United States.

At the start of the two day appeal to challenge the High Court's ruling that he should have had his security level downgraded, Harry claimed he was "singled out for different, unjustified and inferior treatment". Yesterday his lawyers ramped up the rhetoric claiming his security and life are "at stake".

Harry has not seen his father for 14 months despite coming to the UK on numerous occasions, forgoing the offer of being put up in a royal residence where he might be able to catch up with his ailing father, presumably because it would hamper his chances of winning a case that has cost an estimated £1.5million to bring to court.

The difference in these two worlds is so striking. It's barely believable how far Harry has fallen from consistently being the most popular member of the royal family, adored by everyone from the lads in the pub, the troops he served with and your granny. Far from denying anyone the right to fight for what they believe in, especially when it comes to the safety and security of their family, but surely Harry realises by now that his path of resistance against his family, the government or generally anyone who has irked him that week is a tiring practice.

His own father and brother have become so exasperated with his various crusades and petulant attitude they have found it far more cathartic to cut all ties. On any level this is a sad state of affairs. In a parallel universe Harry would have been front and centre, flying the flag for the UK and the monarchy but now finds himself on a path increasingly difficult to turn back from.