A source claims Harry feared he would become irrelevant once Prince George turned 18 (Image: Getty)
The Duke of Sussex harbored a long-held fear that his time was running out and once Prince George turned 18 he would become irrelevant, a source claims. They said, “He had this thing that he had a shelf life. He was fixated [on] this one. He would compare himself to his uncle [Prince Andrew]. He would say, ‘I have this time to make this impact. Because I can’.”
The source told The Times after Prince George turned 18 that Harry believed: “‘Then I’ll be the fugitive too’. He honestly thought, ‘I’ve got this platform now for a limited time. I want to move forward, move forward’. “
According to the same source, Harry’s staff assured him that he was a very different person from his uncle Prince Andrew. The Times reports that they told him, “You can still make an impact in your 40s, 50s or even taller. If you lay the right foundation now.”
However, the source claimed that Harry never saw it this way. The Duke of Sussex has been approached for comment. The claims appear in Valentine Low’s Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, to be published October 6 by Headline Books.
The claims come amid speculation as to whether Harry and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, may be brought back into the fold of the royal family.
King Charles III, Prince Harry and Princess Anne arrive at the Committal Service in Windsor (Image: Getty)
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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s children Archie and Lilibet remain a regular Master and Miss on the royal website instead of Prince and Princess, but the King’s spokesperson promised to update it “when and when we get information”.
Russell Myers, Royal Editor at The Mirror, claimed that Harry probably has “no turning back” in the close circle of the royal family.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been largely kept at a distance from senior members of the company since they relinquished royal duties in 2020.
Myers claimed Harry’s “behavior” in recent years, including an explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey revealing intimate details of his royal life, has left a major “wound” in his relationship with the extended royal family.
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Harry and Meghan after Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin was brought to Westminster Hall (Image: Getty)
Prince George and the Prince of Wales attend the solemn service (Image: Getty)
Myers discussed the Duke of Sussex during a performance on The Royal Beat on True Royalty TV.
The royal commentator said: “The olive branch extended by the king in his statement, the fact that William invited them to Windsor – these are plasters on a large wound that he had a big hand in.”
He asked, “Is he… [now] really regretted his behavior in recent years? I don’t know where they’re going and I can see it only getting worse with this book.”
Publisher Random House is set to publish a memoir co-written by Harry that the Duke has sworn will be an intimate account of his life.
The line of succession (Image: Express)
Harry said in an announcement about the book: “I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to share what I have learned in my life so far and I am excited that people are reading a first-hand account of my life that is accurate and complete. is truthful.”
He said he intended to write the book not as the prince he was born, but as the man he has become.
Last week Harry sat behind his father King Charles III at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. The seating arrangement was labeled a snob by some, but royal commentators argued it was a move to signal King Charles III’s bond with his youngest son.
Christina Garibaldi and Christine Ross, hosts of the podcast Royally Us, claimed the new monarch wanted his son “nearby”.
Mrs. Garibaldi said: “Many people said it was stupid to have him [Harry] behind King Charles at Westminster Abbey. A lot of people also said he didn’t sing “God Save The King.” There’s always this kind of speculation.”
Ms Ross added: “I actually think Prince Harry, sitting right behind his father, kept them pretty close. That front row was the Queen’s children who were carrying a tremendous amount of grief – this was their mother.
“And I actually think Harry standing behind his father was actually a comfort to King Charles.”
The hosts also spoke to royal historian and commentator Gareth Russell, who claimed Harry and Meghan were given a “place of honor” at the state funeral. He said, “That’s the etiquette. If you know what the etiquette is, it’s actually a place of honor. Standing behind the king is actually a sign of favor.”
William and Harry at Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral (Image: Getty)
In 2020, Harry spoke of his grief at being forced to give up his royal duties in a deal with Queen Elizabeth II and senior members of the royal family, saying there was no other option if he and Meghan sought an independent future.
It followed an announcement that the Sussexes would no longer be working members of the monarchy, no longer use their royal titles, and pay their own way in life.
The arrangement put an end to a crisis the couple sparked when they announced they wanted to cut back on official engagements and spend more time in North America while remaining active royals.
Harry said at the time: “Our hope was to continue serving the Queen, the Commonwealth and my military associations without public funding. Unfortunately, that was not possible.”
He added: “I accepted this, knowing it doesn’t change who I am, or how committed I am. But I hope that helps you understand where it came to, that I would step back from everything what I’ve ever known to take a step forward toward what I hope can be a more peaceful life.”
Since relinquishing his royal duties, Harry has delivered a speech on the occasion of International Nelson Mandela Day at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and also publicly before the Invictus Games.
Meghan and Harry have also signed a documentary deal with streaming giant Netflix.