Does Harry really want to follow Edward VIII?

YOU HAVE a very popular and senior member of the Royal Family who falls for an American divorcee and his world falls apart. Sound familiar? It happened to Edward VIII and now it’s happened to his great-great-nephew Prince Harry. Talk about history repeating itself. But have Harry and Meghan really thought this one through? All this talk about “financial independence”. Does that mean they’ll be giving Frogmore “Cottage” back?

And with the greatest respect to Prince Harry, it’s hard to see how he’d be able to earn his own living. Starting the Invictus Games was inspiring and a triumph, but he couldn’t have done it without the millions flowing from the Windsor purse.

Is Meghan going to resume her career as an actress and become the main breadwinner? They’d certainly be a ground-breaking Royal couple if they went down that route.

After the nightmare of the marriage of Harry’s parents, we really should have grown out of looking for fairytale happy endings, but initially it all looked so perfect for the little lost boy who’d lost his mum. Meghan, left, was strong enough to deal with the limelight, her biracial heritage brought the Royal Family zapping in to the 21st century and now what? Are they Royal or aren’t they? Is it Meghan’s fault? It’s hard to escape the conclusion that having grown up in a country that considers the Kennedys to be aristocracy, Meghan didn’t understand that being a Windsor is not like being a celebrity. It wasn’t about wearing the latest designer clothes to awards ceremonies. It was about getting on with the job. Meghan might not have known this but Harry did. What was he thinking? Presumably, unless the rift with his brother is an awful lot worse than we’ve been led to believe, he wants the institution of monarchy to flourish as much as anyone. How does he think he’s helping that?

Harry was one of its most popular members, adored by all and sundry.We forgave him readily for the Vegas antics. We were even sympathetic during his photographer-punching stage. He was a prince looking for love, just like the rest of us.And now what?

I hope history stops repeating itself right now for Harry’s own sake because similar episodes in the past did not end well. Edward VIII had a pointless life, as pointless as Harry’s Great Aunt Margaret, another Royal who thought duty should take second place to having a good time. And don’t forget Uncle Andy, who was also too prone to putting pleasure before business.

Heaven forfend that Harry goes down that route. The contrast with William and Kate could scarcely be stronger. If Harry has an ounce of common sense, he’ll mend bridges with his brother because he’s going to need him.And fast.