Prince Harry’s transition to life in the US, away from his “pheasant shooting friends”, is reportedly being embraced by his wife Meghan Markle, who allegedly “doesn’t get on” with his former circle of friends, according to a royal expert.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who tied the knot in 2018, relocated to the US in 2020, severing ties with their previous royal lifestyle and many of Harry’s friends at the time.
The couple are not believed to be troubled by the loss of these friendships, as a royal commentator suggests they are “happy to forget” their past life.
Hugh Grosvenor, the 7th Duke of Westminster and a close friend of Harry, is set to wed in the coming days – but the Duke will not be present, reports the Mirror.
Royal expert and author Tom Quinn exclusively told the Mirror: “Harry hates the idea of completely losing touch with his old Etonian and army friends and he was close to Hugh Grosvenor, but attending a wedding at which his brother will be an usher is just history repeating itself in the most painful way.
Harry felt he should have been invited to be an usher, but once again his brother takes precedence.However, missing the wedding and gradually losing contact with his old friends isn’t entirely negative for Harry.
“He is aware that Meghan detests many of his old woke-hating, pheasant-shooting friends and those old friendships are still intertwined with a past that Harry is, in many ways, happy to leave behind.”
He elaborated: “The truth is that many of Harry’s old friends especially from the military and Eton just don’t get on with Meghan. Hugh van Cutsem’s decision to work with Jeremy Clarkson famous for his savage attacks on Meghan is seen by Harry as an unforgiveable betrayal.
“The only thing that makes it bearable is that Harry knows Meghan dislikes van Cutsem and his one claim to fame: his ability to shoot deer.”
He further commented: “For Harry the end of his friendship with van Cutsem is just cutting one of the last few ties with his old life; a life he never much enjoyed anyway.”
Harry’s former friend Hugh van Cutsem, who also happens to be a close friend of Prince William and has strong connections to King Charles through his father, has been in the spotlight recently.
The banker and businessman has struck up a friendship with the candid TV personality Jeremy Clarkson, even featuring on his programme ‘Clarkson’s Farm’.
This move is viewed by Harry as a deep act of disloyalty following Clarkson’s incendiary and contentious remarks in a column where he suggested Meghan should be publicly ridiculed.
The falling out between Harry and Hugh seems to have been brewing over the past couple of years. Hugh’s spouse Rosie Astor seemed to take a swipe at Harry and Meghan for their decision to step back from Royal duties in 2020.
At that time, Rosie posted on her social media: “I am standing back as a senior member of my tax return, because I’d rather drink coffee, see my friends, love my family and do yoga.”
Prince Harry disclosed in his 2023 autobiography ‘Spare’ that there was friction between him and Hugh, detailing the backlash he faced following his bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.
In his tell-all book, Harry recounts: “Several close mates and beloved figures in my life, including one of Hugh and Emilie’s sons, Emilie herself, and even Tiggy [Pettifer, his former nanny], had chastised me for Oprah. How could you reveal such things? About your family”.