These 3 Royals Aren't Willing to Forgive Prince Harry, Says Source
"Several family members made clear they wanted nothing to do with Harry," an insider says.
Most royal watchers were focusing on how Prince Harry and Prince William would interact with one another when they saw each other for the first time in over a year at Prince Philip's funeral on Saturday. But ultimately, his brother wasn't among the royals who gave Harry the cold shoulder. "The Palace was concerned about the delicate situation involving the Duke of Sussex and the Duke of Cambridge's being in contact with one another at the ceremony, but it seems there were several family members who made clear they wanted nothing to do with Harry," an inside source told Best Life.
Multiple outlets in Britain have reported that other relatives—three in particular—are still "very upset" about Harry's behavior since Philip entered the hospital back in February. Read on to find out which members of the Royal Family aren't ready to let bygones be bygones, and for more on how Her Majesty is doing, check out The One "Drastic Change" the Queen Is About to Make Now, Insiders Say.
Princess Anne and the Wessexes are not ready to forgive Harry.
According to The Mail on Sunday, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, and his wife, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, reportedly didn't speak to or even acknowledge Harry at all before or after Philip's funeral service. "There is a deep sense of protection towards the Queen and resentment towards Harry," a source told the outlet. "There is little sympathy for him after what he and Meghan said on Oprah."
Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, leveled explosive allegations about the Royal Family during their March sit-down with Oprah Winfrey, accusing them of institutional racism and claiming an unnamed family member—not the Queen or Prince Philip—questioned what color yet-to-be born Baby Sussex's skin would be. As a result, The Mail on Sunday reported, "They are putting on a united front for the Queen. They all think [Harry] has behaved appallingly." And for more on how Philip's death has upended things, check out The One Thing Harry & Meghan Must Do Now That Philip Has Died, Sources Say.
The Queen's children and her daughter-in-law think Harry is "disloyal beyond belief."
Married to the Queen's youngest son, Prince Edward, Sophie stepped up in the wake of Harry and Meghan's departure and has taken on more official appearances, which have been very well received. She is extremely close to the Queen and appeared very upset when she spoke to well-wishers at a church service for Philip at Windsor on the Sunday before the funeral. She was visibly emotional as she described Prince Philip's passing, telling one mourner, "It was just like somebody took him by the hand and off he went."
An insider told Best Life that Sophie and Edward have always had a "very close" relationship with the Queen and have had regular "movie nights" on Sundays when they drive over to Windsor for dinner and afterwards pick out something on Netflix to watch with Her Majesty. "Sophie is often said to be the Queen's favorite daughter-in-law. Edward is the only one of the Queen's four children to not divorce," a source explained. "There is a great deal of affection felt on all sides. They simply can not fathom how Harry could go on television and say what he did, which was deeply hurtful to the Queen—all while Philip lay in [the] hospital gravely ill."
Princess Anne has always enjoyed a warm and loving relationship with her mother, who admires her daughter's unwavering loyalty to "The Firm." "The Princess Royal has been there for Her Majesty throughout her life," said one insider. "Anne has always put duty before all else, like her mother. They are both pragmatists. Anne believes what Harry did by speaking to Oprah Winfrey was disloyal beyond belief. She is not willing to overlook it and may never do so." And for more on which royal has won over fans, check out This Is the Most Popular Royal After Harry & Meghan's Tell-All, Poll Shows.
At the moment, Harry's supporters within the Royal Family consist of one uncle and a cousin.
Harry does have an ally in Princess Eugenie, who has remained a loyal friend to him. It was reported that the prince talked to his cousin before he arrived for Philip's funeral and it's believed he had a socially distanced visit with her before the service. When Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, announced they were expecting their first child, Harry and Meghan offered the couple Frogmore Cottage as a quiet retreat.
The Mail on Sunday reported that Harry also has the support of Eugenie's father, Prince Andrew, whose disastrous interview with the BBC—in which he tried, and failed, to explain his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein—resulted in his banishment from public life.
"Ironically, the only one who has expressed any sympathy towards [Harry] is Prince Andrew," a source told The Mail on Sunday. "He knows from Sarah Ferguson—and now first-hand—how it feels to be the outsider, which Harry very much is." And for more royals news sent right to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
It remains to be seen what will come of Harry's relationship with his father and brother.
Despite their stony expressions during the processional, William and Harry may have put their fraught relationship aside for the day as they said farewell to their grandfather. After the service, the brothers wound up walking together and appeared to be talking when Duchess Kate stepped back to give the princes time alone as they made their way to Windsor Castle.
Later, Prince Charles and his sons reportedly had a two-hour meeting in an attempt begin a conversation about a way forward, with Kate sitting in for much of the talk. "The Prince of Wales wants very much to reconcile with Harry and see him reconcile with William," a source previously told Best Life. "He understands the future of the monarchy depends on it." And for more on who has Her Majesty's ear at the moment, check out The Queen's Relationship With This Royal Has the Family Concerned, Source Says.
Diane Clehane is a New York-based journalist and author of Imagining Diana and Diana: The Secrets of Her Style.
