Prince Harry is reportedly facing increased isolation as old friends, including military buddies and schoolmates, distance themselves from him. According to royal commentator Tom Quinn, the root of this estrangement is not Harry's relocation to Montecito, California, but his wife, Meghan Markle.
Quinn, a royal author, suggests that Harry's friends find Meghan "difficult" and are reluctant to visit the couple at their Montecito home. He further notes that Harry himself is hesitant to reconnect with his old military friends, seeing them as part of his "pre-Meghan world," a chapter of his life he seems eager to leave behind.
"Harry has a few friends from the army and from his days at school, but they are a part of the old pre-Meghan world that Harry hates to revisit," Quinn told the Mirror. This sentiment is echoed by others who believe Harry's military friends feel betrayed by his revelations in his controversial memoir, "Spare."
In "Spare," Harry made several comments about his military service that were seen as a breach of protocol. Royal commentator Gareth Russell told GB News, "There were very clear signs from the military in Britain that they were extremely unhappy with many of the comments made in 'Spare' and on several chat shows. I don't think there's any doubt that many in the military felt he had broken a code or broken protocol, and that means a great deal within the British military."
Despite his significant contributions to the Invictus Games, which support wounded veterans, Harry's remarks in his memoir have overshadowed his efforts. He revealed that he had killed 25 Taliban fighters in Afghanistan, describing them as "chess pieces taken off the board." Harry wrote, "It wasn't a statistic that filled me with pride but nor did it make me ashamed. When I was plunged into the heat and confusion of battle, I didn't think about those as 25 people."
This candid admission has not sat well with his former comrades, who view it as inappropriate and isolating. The backlash from his military community highlights the deepening rift between Harry and his old life in the UK.
Adding to the sense of estrangement, Harry was noticeably absent from the wedding of one of his oldest friends, Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, who is also the godfather to Harry and Meghan's son, Archie. The wedding, held at Chester Cathedral, was attended by Prince William but not Harry, which royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams described as "very sad."
"To feel you have no choice but to miss the wedding of the year is very sad. However, the deep rift within the royal family has ensured that Harry and Meghan were never going to accept an invitation to the wedding of Hugh Grosvenor, Duke of Westminster, godfather to Archie and a close friend of Harry. They knew William would be there, reportedly as one of the ushers," Fitzwilliams told the Mirror.
The ongoing estrangement has cast a shadow over what was once a close-knit circle of friends. Critics argue that Harry's transformation, often seen as adopting a more "woke" persona, has not resonated well with his more conservative friends. "His old Etonian friends don't like the new 'woke' Harry. Conservative with both a small and a big C, they see the new Harry as a tree-hugger with whom they have nothing in common," Quinn observed.
The fallout from "Spare" and the evolving dynamics within the royal family continue to shape Harry's relationships. His absence from significant events and the growing distance from old friends underscore the complex and often painful journey he has undertaken since stepping back from his royal duties.
As Harry and Meghan navigate their new life in California, the question remains whether they can bridge the gap with his former circle or if the divides will only widen further. The challenges they face highlight the broader implications of their departure from royal life and the enduring impact of their choices on personal relationships.
