Royalty

It was just the one word that made it sound a little as if he was on autopilot and hadn't really thought about what he was going to say. Then again, I certainly wouldn't want to be in his shoes and constantly have to function for the cameras, and I'm quite happy to cut everybody like that some slack.
You're right Oliver - tragedy was the wrong word, though the fact they'd just finished watching an extremely hard-hitting movie about Mandela's life may well have heightened his emotions? I did find myself asking "Why on earth do I want or need to know the thoughts of this privileged young man who has never wanted for anything, who hardly knew Mandela, and whose life bears absolutely no resemblance to his?"