Prince Philip Has Some Intense Thoughts About Prince Harry Giving up His Royal Life, Book Claims
Though the British Royal Family understood the challenges that Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex were facing in The Firm, they were startled when the young couple announced Megxit publicly in January 2020.
After all, many people have struggled in the royal family before, and they’ve just pressed forward until things eased up and became less complicated. Therefore, when the Sussexes announced they wanted out, the royals had to struggle to determine how they would respond. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles were reportedly hurt by the news, but they also seemed to understand Prince Harry and Meghan’s perspective.
For their part, Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge were confused but relieved since the couples’ relationship had become increasingly intense. However, one royal voice, Prince Philip, has been resoundingly silent. Now, one book claims that the Duke of Edinburgh is horrified by his grandson’s new life.
Inside Prince Philip and Prince Harry’s close relationship
After more than 70 years of service, Prince Philip retired from public life back in 2017. Since then he’s only been seen sporadically, at various weddings and he spends the majority of his time at Windsor Castle away from the hustle and bustle of London.
Though the Duke of Edinburgh is known for his gruff and outspoken nature, Prince Harry has always been extremly close with his 99-year-old grandfather.
“You can see how close they are when the male members meet up at Christmas or other events,” royal reporter Philip Dampier told Harper’s Bazaar, “It is touching to see and in contrast to his gruff public image. Royal correspondent Duncan Larcombe explained,
What I’ve observed–mainly with Prince William and Prince Harry– is the relationship between grandparent and child is a very different one to the relationship between father and son or daughter. Philip is the epitome of stiff upper lip–he is never photographed crying or showing emotion publicly. But his relationship with the boys is much warmer.
Prince Philip was not pleased with Megxit
Since he is so close with Prince Harry and he gave up a great deal including his role in the Royal Navy when Queen Elizabeth ascended to the throne, the duke was not pleased when he heard about Megxit.
Though Prince Philip really adored Meghan because of her boldness, he reportedly felt that Megxit was taking things a step too far. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Express,
He would not have endorsed their wish for independence and certainly not the way they handled it. He had his own struggles against at establishment figures who didn’t like him or want him involved in matters of state when she ascended the throne.
Prince Philip thinks Prince Harry has given up his royal life to become a self-centered celebrity
Now that Prince Harry and Meghan have settled in California and signed a mega-watt deal with Netflix, Prince Philip is reportedly even more upset. In her new book, Prince Philip Revealed royal biographer Ingrid Seward writes the duke feels his grandson’s actions are a complete “dereliction” of his responsibilities.
Seward writes, that the Duke of Edinburgh feels Prince Harry is, “giving up his homeland and everything he cared about for a life of a self-centered celebrity in North America.” The book goes into further detail via People,
Prince Philip has found it hard to understand exactly what it was that made his grandson’s life so unbearable. As far as Philip was concerned, Harry and Meghan had everything going for them: a beautiful home, a healthy son, and a unique opportunity to make a global impact with their charity work…. For a man whose entire existence has been based on a dedication to doing the right thing, it appeared that his grandson had abdicated his responsibilities for the sake of his marriage to an American divorcée in much the same way as Edward VIII gave up his crown to marry Wallis Simpson in 1937.
