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Royal Family website accidentally directs users to Chinese adult site

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 16: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex hosts the Rugby League World Cup 2021 draws for the men's, women's and wheelchair tournaments at Buckingham Palace on January 16, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
The patronage link on Harry's page sent users to a porn site. (Getty Images)

Buckingham Palace has corrected a link on its website after a page promoting one of Prince Harry’s patronages sent users to an adult site in China.

The web link on the Duke of Sussex’s patronages page should have taken users to Dolen Cymru, a charity which creates links between Wales and Lesotho.

But it was using an outdated web address, and directed people instead to a Chinese porn site.

The link has since been updated.

Prince Harry was announced as a patron in 2007 and has previously spoken about his connection to the charity, saying he “fully support[s] Dolen Cymru in its great endeavours to develop contacts with organisations with common interests”.

The website was listing the incorrect URL
The website was listing the incorrect URL

Internet archiving website The WayBack Machine reveals the link previously listed on the royal website was at one point the correct address, as it shows a page for the charity in the 2001 archives.

It appears that the .com address for the Welsh charity may have lapsed at some time in 2015, being replaced to a redirect to buy domains.

The correct website front for Dolen Cymru
The correct website front for Dolen Cymru

The incident raised questions about the accuracy of patronage website listings in the royal website.

As well as the Dolen Cymru link, there are incorrect or outdated links for the Royal Navy page, which leads to an error message, the Rugby Football Union, which has changed its web address, and Silverstone, which sends back ‘Page Not Found’.

This internet archiving tool shows the URL was once correct
This internet archiving tool shows the URL was once correct

Even the prince’s passion project of Sentebale doesn’t take users to the right place.

On the Duke of Cambridge’s patronages page, a typo in the English School Swimming Association means the address doesn’t work.

The link for the Royal Navy patronage doesn't go to a page
The link for the Royal Navy patronage doesn't go to a page

Prince Harry is expected to keep the vast majority of his patronages when he formally steps back as a senior member of the royal family, as will his wife Meghan. Dolen Cymru is one of those he will keep.

The duke, however, will be stripped of his military titles and honours.

Royal patronages can help charities raise their profile and highlight the achievements and work in wider society.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had said they wanted to “honour our duty to the Queen” when they announced the plan to step back, but the palace was unable to facilitate a half-in, half-out situation.

Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment.