Prince Harry's ongoing battle with the Royal Family has drawn comparisons to his late mother, Princess Diana, with a royal expert suggesting that the Duke of Sussex is allowing "history to repeat itself" by perpetuating the same criticism that Diana faced during her lifetime. The recent alleged "near catastrophic car chase" involving Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and her mother, Doria Ragland, has further heightened concerns about the parallels between the duke's experiences and those of his mother.
Royal author and expert Tom Quinn, speaking to the Mirror, stated that Prince Harry's focus on his mother's struggles with "The Firm" may be counterproductive. "Harry's comment in Spare that he 'wants peace' with the royal family for the sake of his mother is undoubtedly heartfelt, but in being so focused on Diana, Harry is actually allowing history to repeat itself," Quinn said.
The expert further elaborated on how Prince Harry has taken on his mother's role in criticizing the institution that he feels has let him down. "Diana famously fell out with 'the firm' as she called it and spent much of her adult life criticising an institution she felt had let her down. Harry has taken on his mother's mantle by carrying on exactly the same kind of criticism," Quinn added.
Prince Harry, who lost his mother in a fatal car crash in Paris in 1997 when he was just 12 years old, has been vocal about the impact of her death on his life. Quinn noted that while the duke desires to be close to his father, King Charles, and his brother, Prince William, he is "locked into a battle that has become an obsession for him."
The recent incident in New York City, where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were allegedly pursued by paparazzi for more than two hours, resulting in "multiple near collisions," has reignited discussions about the aggressive press intrusion that Prince Harry blames for his mother's death. The duke has long spoken out against such treatment, drawing comparisons between the media's portrayal of his mother and his wife, Meghan Markle.
In his bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, Prince Harry expressed his fear of "history repeating itself," stating, "I'm just really relieved and happy to be sitting here talking to you with my wife by my side because I can't begin to imagine what it must have been like for her [Diana] going through this process by herself all those years ago. Because it's been unbelievably tough for the two of us but at least we have each other."
The duke has also cited his mother's experiences as a driving force behind his and Meghan's decision to step down as senior working royals in 2020 and relocate their family to the United States. In an interview with Tom Bradby for ITV in January, Prince Harry explained, "I never want to be in that position. I don't want history to repeat itself. I do not want to be a single dad. And I certainly don't want my children to have a life without a mother or a father."
The alleged car chase in New York City occurred just hours before a man suspected of "stalking" was arrested outside the couple's home in Santa Barbara County, California. The 29-year-old man, identified as Kevin Garcia Valdovinos, was reportedly seen "lurking" outside the Montecito mansion and was later booked on misdemeanor stalking charges.
As Prince Harry continues to navigate his complex relationship with the Royal Family and the media, the spectre of his mother's struggles looms large. The parallels between Diana's experiences and those of the duke and his wife have sparked discussions about the need for reform in the treatment of public figures by the press and the ongoing challenges faced by members of the Royal Family who seek to forge their own paths.
