Prince Harry 'looks thoroughly miserable' after stepping back from royal duties with Meghan, historian says
By Natalie Oliveri|
Prince Harry looks "thoroughly miserable", a royal historian has claimed, comparing him to the former King Edward VIII who abdicated for love.
Hugo Vickers, who has written books about the Duke of Kent and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, likened Harry to his ancestor who gave up the throne to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson.
King Edward VIII was later known as the Duke of Windsor when he moved to France to live with Simpson, the crown passing to King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II.
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Vickers recalled seeing the former King in 1968 at the funeral of Princess Marina, the late Queen's aunt and first cousin of the Duke of Edinburgh.
"I've never seen anyone with such sad eyes," he said. "I think the reason the Queen always had such sparkling eyes was because she dedicated herself to duty."
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Vickers ?was speaking at the Henley Literary Festival about his book on the Duke of Kent, A Royal Life, The Times reports.
"[Edward VIII] ?took the path of perceived happiness [by abdicating so he could marry Wallis Simpson, a divorcee] and in the end it's duty that makes you happy."
He said the former King never admitted to regretting his decision.
"If you woke him up at 4am and asked if he had any regrets he would have said no. But if you want to know what he really thought, look at his eyes.
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"As for the Duke of Sussex, who knows what's going to happen to him? I think he looks thoroughly miserable."
Prince Harry stepped back from his place as a senior working royal in March 2020, along with his wife Meghan.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had wanted to continue representing the Queen on official engagements while being able to earn an income.
That half-in, half-out model was rejected by the late monarch and Prince Harry and Meghan stepped back altogether and moved to the United States.
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?Since then, Prince Harry has been vocal about his unhappiness with the royal family and how he and Meghan were treated before their exit.
Now that his father is King, there has been speculation about whether Prince Harry and Meghan might be able to find a new role for themselves under the new reign.
But that would depend on King Charles' long-rumoured plans for a slimmed-down monarchy.
Vickers, however, said a slimmed-down monarchy posed a risk for the royal family.
"I don't know how you can have a slimmed-down monarchy because people do want to see them.
"The Queen and Prince Philip had about 2,000 organisations between them. You've lost Prince Andrew and Prince Harry. Who's going to do it?"?
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