Duchess’ Uncle Gary: “Harry’s being self-indulgent – but Kate is trying to make peace”
As the fallout with Harry and Meghan deepens, The Duchess of Cambridge’s uncle, Gary Goldsmith (left), tells Closer she is the key to healing their rift with the royal family
IF HE DOESN’T GET A GRIP, THERE WILL SOON BE NO RELATIONSHIP TO REBUILD
It’s been bombshell after bombshell from Prince Harry as he continues to blast members of the royal family in his apparent war against the Palace.
In his latest scathing comments, he criticised his dad, Prince Charles, for not doing enough to prevent him and Prince William from suffering following the death of their mother, Princess Diana, and accused the family of “total neglect” when his wife Meghan Markle struggled with her mental health.
The Queen – recently widowed after the death of Prince Philip in April – is said to be feeling “upset” and “blindsided” by the confessions in Harry’s new Apple TV docuseries, The Me You
Can’t See, which he produced with Oprah Winfrey.
Prince William, 39, and wife Kate, 40, have also been in the Sussex’s firing line, following the couple’s infamous interview with Oprah in February, with Harry, 36, describing William as being “trapped” and Meghan, 39, saying Kate made her cry. With public support for the former royal couple appearing to be waning, Kate’s uncle, Gary Goldsmith, now tells Closer that while the outbursts have been upsetting, he believes
Kate is the key to fixing the fractured relationship.
HURTFUL
Recruitment consultant Gary, 56, who is the younger brother of Kate’s mother, Carole Middleton, says, “I went from being happy [about Harry taking the decision to seek a more “private life”] to angry, to worried about him.
“Everyone is astonished. He wanted to step back and protect his wife, now he’s charging in. It’s an attack on the family – why do it? If you want an easy life, work it out privately and have a conversation respectfully. Don’t air it in public, it’s really hurtful.
“The harsh truth – in my opinion – is that if Harry doesn’t get a grip and stop this self-indulgent episode, there will soon be no common ground or relationship to rebuild.
“But if anyone can bring peace to the royals, Kate can. Kate is a brilliant arbiter and peacemaker. Every bone in her body is about making friends and doing the best she can... She’s trying to mediate.”
Gary tells Closer that despite Harry’s attacks on the monarchy – including claims of racism and not helping with mental health problems – he believes the royals won’t be “damaged” by it.
He says, “I’ve never been more proud of the royal family. They give us a sense of stability and they’ve kept their dignity. Everyone loves our Queen and I think, with everything going on in the world at the moment, the royals are as important today as ever for our nation. This won’t be damaging to them at all.”
TENSIONS
When Meghan was introduced into the fold in 2017, Kate is said to have welcomed her and, with their husbands, they were famously dubbed “The Fab Four”.
Then, with tensions reportedly rising between William and Harry,
Kate took Meghan to Wimbledon in 2019 to show solidarity. And in April, she acted as peacemaker again at Prince Philip’s funeral, when she was seen moving away to give Harry and William space
to talk after coming face to face for the first time in 16 months.
Gary continues, “You could see at the funeral that Kate was there trying to make peace, bringing the brothers together.
“Harry and Kate were great friends, they were a trio with William and a strong unit. Family and relationships are everything to Kate – she’s very nurturing, she wouldn’t like that [rift] happening and she is trying to look after her husband and do what she can to make things right.”
Despite admitting to years of therapy and insisting he’s now happy, his outbursts have led many to believe that Harry is not truly content.
LASHING OUT
Just last week, Paul Burrell – Princess Diana’s “rock” and her butler for 10 years – told Closer that Diana would be heartbroken by the feud, and that he believes Harry is “destroying himself” by lashing out at his family. Paul added, “He won’t heal if he keeps doing this – it’ll make things worse in the long run.”
Meanwhile, aristocrat and friend of Prince Andrew, Lady Victoria Hervey, told Closer she didn’t see their marriage lasting, insisting, “I think Harry and Meghan’s courtship was way too short... That’s why Kate and William’s relationship is so successful – they were together for such a long time before getting married.”
Meanwhile, William and
Kate were heaped with praise for their successful seven-day tour of Scotland last week.
The pair put on a united and relaxed display as they returned to St Andrews – the place they first met at university nearly two decades ago. William gushed, “It was here in Scotland 20 years ago this year that I first met Catherine. Needless to say, the town where you meet your future wife holds a very special place in your heart.”
Kate melted hearts when she visited five-year-old cancer patient Mila Sneddon, wearing a “Princess pink” dress as requested by Mila, who wanted to see a real-life princess.
Gary continues, “I’m sorry that Harry thinks he’s had a tough time, but I can see from my niece that she is very happy [in the family]. She’s doing a great job. She is under a microscope all of the time, she is a mother of three, working hard – and she is genuinely happy and enjoying her time in the family.”
During Harry and Meghan’s interview with Oprah Winfrey in February, Meghan accused Kate of making her cry. Back in 2018, a report emerged that during a discussion about a bridesmaid outfit for Kate’s daughter Charlotte ahead of Meghan and Harry’s wedding, Kate had been left in tears. However, Meghan told Oprah that the “reverse was true”.
Meghan said, “She made me cry and it really hurt my feelings...” She added that Kate had “apologised”.
But Gary says Meghan’s claim Kate made her cry was not true. He says, “I 1,000 per cent don’t believe it, it’s not in her nature. Catherine is a very beautiful and gentle soul.”