Royal | News - Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
The one thing Prince Harry “craves” is what will prevent him from ever returning to the Royal Family, a palace watcher claims.
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said the Duke of Sussex’s personal qualities would have made him a “great asset” for the Firm but is now doubtful he will ever come back.
Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive podcast, Bond said she “can’t see Harry returning,” but [she]misses his involvement in public life.”
“Harry was the most popular royal wasn’t he, a few years ago. And having watched him grow up and know him just a little bit, he was a wonderful little boy,” she said.
“And a charming, jovial adolescent – at least that’s what we saw. And he was brilliant for the Royal Family, he did bring a natural, common touch, a relatability that would’ve been a great asset had he stayed.”
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But Bond told the outlet she now just hopes Harry “has a happy life now and all that he wanted, the freedom he craved – and he did crave that freedom – the wife he loves, the children he adores, the family life in that model of domestic bliss that he didn’t have in his own adolescence.”
A representative for the Prince has been approached for comment.
The Duke relocated to California with his wife Meghan Markle and their two children after stepping down as senior royals in 2020.
In recent times he has made only fleeting visits to the UK for his father’s coronation, Invictus Games-related engagements, and for some court appearances.
It comes after Harry said he was unable to return to the UK with Meghan “because it is too dangerous”.
Harry’s taxpayer-funded UK security was removed when he stepped back from senior royal duties, and in February he lost a legal fight to have it restored.
Following the ruling earlier this year, a spokesperson for the Duke said he is “not asking for preferential treatment, but for a fair and lawful application of Ravec’s own rules, ensuring that he receives the same consideration as others in accordance with Ravec’s own written policy.
“In February 2020, Ravec failed to apply its written policy to the Duke of Sussex and excluded him from a particular risk analysis.
“The Duke’s case is that the so-called ‘bespoke process’ that applies to him is no substitute for that risk analysis.
“The Duke of Sussex hopes he will obtain justice from the Court of Appeal, and makes no further comment while the case is ongoing.”