Almost six years after Prince Harry left the UK for a new life in the US, he reportedly still misses aspects of his old life and was struggling to find a purpose in his adopted home.
While Meghan is busy building her brand, As ever, and relishes life in the spotlight, Harry suffers from “crippling social anxiety”, according to royal author Christopher Andersen.
He is also keener than ever to ensure his children get to know their British relatives, especially their grandfather and cousins.
Prince Harry is said to miss aspects of his old life, almost six years after leaving Britain. (Getty)
The snapshot into Prince Harry’s mindset comes in an article in US Weekly overnight, which quoted three sources with knowledge of Harry’s new life.
Christmas was thought to have been particularly tough on the Duke, who spent the festive season holed up in his new home in Montecito, California, with wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
It marked their seventh Christmas away from the royal family, after they skipped the royals’ traditional gathering at Balmoral in 2019 for a quiet get together in Canada, and have spent every year since then in California.
Royal author Christopher Andersen told US Weekly that Harry missed his old life.
READ MORE: Why Andrew and Sarah are holed up in Royal Lodge
READ MORE: Real reason for William and Catherine’s new PR hire
READ MORE: Harry and Meghan Markle facing ‘huge test’
Harry and Meghan last spent Christmas with the royals in 2018. (Getty)
“Does it pain Harry to be pointedly excluded from times when the royal family gets together, like Christmas at Sandringham? Of course it does,” he said.
“On one level, Harry is content in California,” Andersen said, but added he thought he regretted that “neither he nor his children are sharing in their royal heritage”.
But there are other aspects of royal life Harry doesn’t miss, according to another source who spoke to Us Weekly.
“Even though he was raised [as a royal], he was never comfortable in that environment,” the source said.
Harry and Meghan have not been together in the UK since 2022 when the Queen died. (Getty)
“He feels more like himself [in the US].
“[In the UK] he had this crazy schedule, and would come back through the palace gates and couldn’t go out or have a personal life.”
Both Andersen and the source agreed the loss of his military titles after the split from the royal family had been tough on Harry, who served in Afghanistan twice during the war.
“That was extremely difficult because the military was a big part of his life,” said the source, while Andersen called it “painful”.
That is why his role in the Invictus Games is so important to him.
But the loss of ‘structure’ that came with his royal life and military career was something he now struggled with.
Meghan is reportely much happier in the spotlight than her husband. (Getty)
“People often forget that Harry is at his core an army officer,” said Andersen.
“He’s all about structure, honour and duty – things that are missing from his life in Montecito.”
Royal historian Marlene Koenig agreed, telling US Weekly, “Harry’s life was far more structured in the UK. He had responsibilities and official events to attend”.
While Meghan devotes herself to her business, As ever, and her Netflix deal, which most recently resulted in a Christmas edition of her TV show, With Love, Meghan, Harry’s life lacks purpose.
He does the odd speaking engagement, like the one he did in before Christmas at the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) Power House conference in Toronto.
The couple made a surprise appearance at an online book launch last week. (Instagram/@oprahdaily)
However, Andersen said such engagements and his appearance at other events such as his trip to New York with Meghan in October to jointly receive the Humanitarians of the Year award at Project Healthy Minds’ annual gala, left him “somewhat uneasy”.
“He has suffered from crippling social anxiety. Meghan embraces that life more,” Andersen said.
Harry himself has spoken at length about suffering from severe anxiety, panic attacks and PTSD, which he said stemmed from childhood trauma such as his mother’s death.
He also said in the past he would suffer panic attacks before public events and felt ‘trapped’ by his royal duties.
So while his wife grows her brand, Marlene Koenig said Harry was still finding his feet.
“Meghan is the breadwinner,” she said.
“Harry hasn’t settled into a permanent position. He’s spending time with his young children and being a hands-on dad.”
For a daily dose of 9honey, subscribe to our newsletter here.
Harry is reportedly keen to reconcile with his father. (Getty)
Harry is said to be sad his children were not part of the royal fold, especially at Christmas.
He told the BBC in May, “I miss the weird family gatherings when we’re all sort of brought together under one roof for certain times of the year.
”The things that [my kids are] going to miss is, well, everything.
“I love my country, I always have done… and I think that it’s really quite sad that I won’t be able to show my children my homeland.”
The family’s last portrait to mark King Charles’ 70th birthday in 2018. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Andersen said Harry “wants Archie and Lilibet to get to know their British relatives, especially their grandfather… [and] their cousins”.
“But he can’t make that happen unilaterally,” he said.
“They’re learning about Britain in small doses, but make no mistake, they’re growing up Californians.”
Andersen said Harry often felt the standards he was held to were unfair, and pointed to the furore over him attending Kris Jenner’s 70th birthday party.
Harry is said to be unbothered by criticism of his new life in California. (Netflix)
He wore a poppy on his lapel to mark Remembrance Day in the UK the next day but was still criticised in the UK press.
While the source told US Weekly relations between Harry and his father, King Charles were “going in a good direction”, Andersen said they remain estranged, despite their meeting in September.
“Harry has always said the door remains open to some sort of relationship with the royal family,” he said.
World-shaking secret Harry, Meghan were keeping in this pic
“Meghan’s focused on their life in Montecito, but he’s holding out hope that he can eventually divide his time between California and the UK.”
FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.