‘Meghan must compromise to save her marriage’
After an awkward meeting with his brother at a memorial for their late mother, experts say Prince Harry is torn between his wife and family
The nation last week celebrated the life of Princess Diana on what would have been her 60th birthday – with a statue of her unveiled by her two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, outside Kensington Palace.
The photo of the brothers together in front of their mother’s statue touched the hearts of people around the world – and more so, given that they have been embroiled in a toxic feud in recent months.
Hopes had been rising that bad feeling between them had thawed when it emerged the brothers had been texting ahead of the unveiling, revelling in England’s football victory in the Euros days before.
But the continued gulf between them quickly became clear when they emerged for the memorial – with little chat and Harry appearing at times uncertain or broadly grinning next to his more sombre-looking elder brother.
Fans took to social media to express their disappointment, especially following news that Harry left the gathering just 20 minutes later after having one “polite drink” with family including Diana’s sisters and brother. One wrote, “Why was Harry grinning all the time? It looked totally inappropriate.” Another posted, “Harry has made an awkwardness that never needed to be there. Their mother would have been horrified at the divisions that Meghan has caused.” Another said, “It’s just so sad, it looks so awkward and fake between them.”
FURIOUS REACTION
Since Harry and Meghan stepped down from official duties and upped sticks for a new life in California, the royals have reportedly been left “livid” over a series of “truth bombs” from the couple, including their claims to chat show host Oprah Winfrey of racism and of holding back care for Meghan as she struggled to cope with suicidal feelings. The allegations sparked a furious reaction from William, leaving the brothers barely speaking. There was already ill-feeling between them after rows over Harry and Meghan’s alleged treatment of royal staff.
And palace insider Duncan Larcombe – author of Prince Harry: The Inside Story – says the brothers can only truly rebuild their relationship and move forward if Harry and Meghan make drastic changes.
Duncan says, “Harry and Meghan seem to think they can co-exist in these two worlds – the world of British royals and American celebrity. Harry is loving the American life now – but he’s still in the honeymoon phase. I think coming back and seeing his brother, especially against the very moving backdrop of a memorial for their mother, will maybe make him question what he’s given it all up for.
“He’s totally sacrificed relations with his family for his new life with Meghan, and things seem to have been done her way and with her needs first. But, ultimately, Harry will want and need his family – they are his flesh and blood. I think Harry and Meghan will have to make compromises to make things work with the royals, and even to save their marriage – because
there will be a point when he’ll be torn between Meghan’s world and his own family. They need to plan what they say and do moving forward and communicate with the royals, if they want to have a relationship with Harry’s family.”
The tension between the brothers is thought to have heightened after Harry married Meghan, 39, in 2018.
RUFFLED FEATHERS
A recent book, Battle Of The Brothers, by Robert Lacey, claimed the rift hit fever pitch in 2019 when William insisted the two households split, after learning of a “dossier” of alleged bullying by Meghan against palace staff. Indeed, nine staff members quit during Meghan’s 22 months as a royal, and there were stories of her emailing at 5am and “talking down” to them in front of other royals.
And American author Leslie Carroll – who chronicled the couple’s romance in her book, American Princess – says that she doesn’t doubt that Meghan’s approach to staff would have ruffled feathers, due to her upbringing in California.
She says, “Meghan was, in a way, perfect for a role within the royal family – with her hard work ethic and the philanthropic work she’d done over the years. It could have been so great. But I think Meghan’s ‘American ways’ – her bluntness and directness – would not have been well received. In America, we say to employees, ‘I need this done, here’s the list, go do it and then come back to me’. In Britain, it’s more polite and nuanced.
“Meghan would have found it hard to be in that environment. And now she wants to speak her truth, to explain why she found it so hard and why she and Harry moved to America. We’re all very much about telling our stories and speaking out to help others. That’s why she’s done what she’s done – but I can imagine it was hard for Harry to move his life abroad and learn a whole new culture himself.”
BOUNDARIES
As Closer went to press, Harry was due to return to LA to wife Meghan, son Archie, two, and one-month-old daughter Lilibet. He’s not expected to return to the UK until the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee next June.
And Duncan says that in order for some significant improvement to relations between Harry and Meghan and the royals to be made by then, there needs to be a blueprint written out between them.
He says, “The only way it can move forward is for Harry and Meghan to sit down with William and set boundaries. Harry and Meghan have threatened the whole future of the royal family with what they’ve said in recent months – the institution William will one day be head of as King. He can’t be talking at a mental health charity event, with Harry across the pond talking about how the royals totally disregarded his wife when she was suicidal.
“There need to be boundaries and lines drawn – Harry needs to make a decision. He can live his new life and throw himself into work, but it can’t be to the detriment of the royals if he wants a relationship with his family.
“And Meghan too should respect her husband’s family and, should she want her children to have a relationship with them, stop the airing of dirty laundry and move forward without causing tension. If she doesn’t, she may risk losing Harry in the future.”
By Daisy McLure
CLOSERONLINE.CO.UK
❛ SHE SHOULD RESPECT HER HUSBAND’S FAMILY AND MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT CAUSING TENSION ❜