Prince Harry's notable absence from the society wedding of his childhood friend, billionaire Hugh Grosvenor, the 7th Duke of Westminster, has shed light on the ongoing rift within the British royal family and the consequences of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's decision to step down from royal duties four years ago. The wedding, held on June 7 at Chester Cathedral in England, saw Prince William, the future king, serve as an usher, while Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, respectfully declined their invitation.
"Hugh's family has been close to the royals for generations," a source told In Touch, highlighting the significance of the snub. The source added that "a delicate decision was made" to avoid any potential drama that could distract from the pomp, especially given the ongoing feud between the royal brothers.
This latest slight is just one in a series of losses Prince Harry has suffered since stepping away from his royal duties. The Duke of Sussex has been cut off from his father, King Charles III, and sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, both of whom are battling cancer. "The reality is he's lost his place among Britain's high society," the source explained, adding that the recent snubs have proven to be a breaking point for Harry, who is struggling to come to terms with the consequences of his choices.
"There are some days when Harry says he can't take it anymore - the slights, the coldness coming from the palace, it's like he's no longer a part of that family," the source revealed, noting that a "worried" Meghan "seems to be his only anchor these days."
Despite Harry's hopes for reconciliation, as expressed following the release of his bombshell-filled memoir "Spare," the royal family has yet to sit down and discuss the issues at hand. "William and Harry aren't even close to a truce," the source stated, adding that "William hasn't forgiven Harry for what he said in his book."
The ongoing estrangement has taken a toll on Harry, who has been forced to step back from many of his former friendships and has grown increasingly isolated. "There are friends from his former life who don't talk to him out of loyalty to the royal family," the source revealed, adding that Harry is "extremely sensitive to people's disdain for him whether real or perceived" and has become "lonely for his old life."
The situation has been further complicated by the recent cancer diagnoses of King Charles III and Kate Middleton. Despite Harry's efforts to be with his family during these health crises, he has been granted limited access to his father and learned of Kate's medical news along with the rest of the world. "It's boggling to Harry that Charles and Kate would shun him at a time when the family should stick together amid a health crisis," the source said. "That's wrenching for Harry."
Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan's attempts to reinvent themselves in America have faced challenges, with their lucrative podcasting contract with Spotify ending abruptly and their charitable foundation experiencing a significant decline in contributions. "Things haven't exactly panned out as they'd hoped," the source conceded, adding that "Harry wonders whether it was such a good idea to leave the U.K. and everything he knew to move to the States."
In a further sign of his growing distance from the UK, Prince Harry recently changed his country of residence from the UK to the US on official documents related to his eco-tourism not-for-profit organization, Travalyst. The change, backdated to June 29, 2023, coincides with the last days the Sussexes had access to their former UK home, Frogmore Cottage, before handing back the keys.
Despite the ongoing challenges, Meghan has been urging Harry to focus on the present and the life they have built together in the United States. "She reminds him how unhappy he was in the U.K. and how they have so much to be grateful for now," the source shared. "She doesn't spend a lot of time looking backward. She's focused on the present and thinks he should be too."
