Author: Mr Bang

Prince Harry’s bluff ‘called’ by Royal Family as scathing claims met with silence

The Firm have ‘called’ Prince Harry’s bluff after his scathing claims about Prince William, King Charles and the treatment of his wife Meghan Markle, a royal expert claims

Senior royals remain silent over Prince Harry’s accusations (
Image: Getty Images)

Prince Harry’s bluff has been ‘called’ by members of the Royal Family, according to a royal expert.

The Duke of Sussex, 39, famously stepped back from royal duties in January 2020, moving to the States with his wife Meghan Markle to raise their children, Archie, five, and Lilibet, three. Ever since, the couple have made various swipes at The Firm, most notably in his memoir Spare and their bombshell interview with Oprah.

But despite Harry claiming William ‘lunged’ at him during a physical altercation at Frogmore Cottage, and alleging that King Charles refused to allow Meghan to join her husband in Scotland as the late Queen was dying, the royals have opted to remain silent on the matter. And now, a royal expert claims there is a reason for it.

Harry and Meghan have made bombshell claims about the Royal Family in recent years ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
It was previously reported that Prince Harry wanted his family to apologise for the way in which Meghan was treated during her time as a working royal. But according to the Daily Mail’s royal editor Rebecca English, The Firm has “called his bluff” by choosing to remain quiet. Speaking about Harry on the latest episode of the Palace Confidential, Ms English said: “As regards to the apology, what I think this boils down to is the Royal Family have called his bluff.

“They haven’t reacted to any of his demands or his threats, either publicly or privately, I mean they, pretty much, have ignored the fact that Spare had been published.” She said she believes the idea of silence is the “right approach” to respond to Harry and his many accusations and claims.

The writer likened the Royal Family’s reaction to dealing with a toddler’s tantrums. She added: “It’s like don’t listen, don’t make a fuss, don’t give into it, just let it through [and] it’ll blow away and harmony will restore itself.”

Meanwhile, new reports claim Harry is seemingly tired of life in the United States and is keen to spend more time in the UK – potentially repairing the rift with his father and even being welcomed back into the royal fold. The Mail On Sunday reports that the Duke has contacted aides from his former royal life as well as old pals.

Just last month, it emerged his chief of staff Josh Kettler had left his post after just three months on the job. A source told the paper: “Harry is turning away from all sorts of Hollywood publicists and is seeking counsel from his old friends and associates. He is clearly reaching out thinking, ‘I need to do something different because what I’m doing is clearly not working’.”

It’s also been reported that Harry has sent conciliatory WhatsApp messages to old friends in the UK. A source also told The Sun: “Harry is feeling more and more isolated in California, which is why he has been reconnecting with old friends back home.” But sources say a permanent move back to Britain is not on the cards.

Watch Ken Wharfe tell The Sun about his six years as Diana’s bodyguard

PRINCESS Diana would still be alive today if she still had proper security, her bodyguard of six years insists.

Ken Wharfe told The Sun how three mistakes led to the beloved royal, 36, being killed in a horror car crash in Paris 27 years ago today.

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Princess Diana with her bodyguard Ken Wharfe in August 1992Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

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Diana arriving at the Headway charity launch at the Hilton Hotel in December 1992Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

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Diana and Wharfe chat during a visit to Oxford in November 1990Credit: Tim Graham – Getty

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The wreckage of Diana’s car after the fatal crash on August 31, 1997Credit: AFP

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Diana and Dodi Fayed (both partially visible in back seat), bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones (front, left) and driver Henri Paul in the Mercedes shortly before the crashCredit: Getty – Contributor
And he revealed how he had urged Diana to keep her ring of steel Scotland Yard security team before her tragic death.

Diana, Egyptian film producer Dodi Fayed, 42, and Ritz security chief Henri Paul, who was driving, were killed in the 1997 crash.

The sole survivor of the crash was Dodi’s bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones.

Paul had been drinking before getting behind the wheel and was driving at a high speed when the car smashed into the 13th pillar of the Pont de l’Alma underpass.

Wharfe – who was Diana’s personal protection officer from 1997 until 1993 – insisted his former boss would still be alive if Rees-Jones had driven instead of intoxicated Paul.

He said Dodi was a “difficult person” and the decision over who drove would have been out of the security team’s hands.

Wharfe added: “Rees-Jones was plateaued out at the bottom of the pyramid, it was very difficult for him to say to others what you should do and what you shouldn’t do.

“The one thing that would have saved Diana’s life that night would have been if they’d kicked out the chauffeur and for Rees-Jones to have driven.

“He couldn’t do that, because he couldn’t speak to Dodi Fayed – he told him what to do.

“And that’s a shame, because had Rees-Jones taken that command, had he taken that decision to boot out Henri Paul, you and I would not having this discussion.”
I was gobsmacked as Diana told me EVERYTHING about Charles’ affair, I kept her secrets for years
Diana’s death sparked an outpouring of public grief from millions around the world who saw her as the People’s Princess.

And images of the smashed-up car sparked shockwaves globally.

Diana and Dodi intended to head a short distance to an apartment he owned off the Champs-Elysees from the Ritz hotel in the French capital.

But in a desperate bid to fool press outside, they decided to use two decoy cars to cover their tracks.

A Range Rover was posted outside the Ritz’s main entrance, with Dodi’s usual driver at the wheel.

Meanwhile, Dodi and Diana climbed into a hired jet-black armoured Mercedes at the back entrance.

Paul, who was four times the legal drinking limit in France, was drafted in from home to drive the couple – and is said to have earlier goaded media outside the hotel waiting to spot them.

A probe after the crash concluded he lost control of the car while driving at high speed, under the influence of both alcohol and prescription drugs.

But Wharfe argues the whole incident could have been avoided if Dodi and Diana’s security hadn’t excluded local police and treated the media as “the enemy”.

He said: “The security also failed because of their inexperience to involve the local police, to have a relationship with the assembled paparazzi.

“You cannot treat the paparazzi or the media as an enemy – that doesn’t work.

“Yes, they can be annoying – but actually not one of them was out to kill Diana, they were there to photograph her.

“So you needed a dialogue, you needed a relationship.

“My relationship working with the media was at times difficult, but most of the time enjoyable.

“I often referred to the media as my Dad’s Army, because they would always keep the princess alive, which they did.

“And so that was the failure of the Fayed security. And that’s a tragedy.”

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Diana clutches flowers as Wharfe looks on in September 1992Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

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Charles and Diana pose with their sons Prince William and Prince Harry at Highgrove on July 14, 1986Credit: Getty – Contributor

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The Prince and Princess of Wales attend a welcome ceremony in Toronto at the beginning of their Canadian tour in October 1991Credit: Getty – Contributor
Wharfe also believes that Diana could have been saved from such an early death if the late Queen had retained her Scotland Yard security.

Diana and Charles announced their separation in 1992, and the following year Wharfe decided to step down as her bodyguard.

Just weeks later, Diana decided to axe her entire team – but was not urged to maintain her protection.

Wharfe said: “Yes, Diana had run ins with the Queen occasionally, and other senior members of the royal family.

“But had the Queen insisted that Diana retain her Scotland Yard security, Diana would have accepted it.

“You cannot force security on somebody, they have to say ‘yes, I’ll take it’.

“But the fact that it wasn’t offered, this was her way of saying I want a new life.”

Dian’s decision to cut ties with her security team came just four weeks after Wharfe had implored her to keep them on.

Three weeks after he resigned, Diana asked him to visit her at Kensington Palace.

Wharfe added: “She said, ‘you’ve always been great with advice. If there’s one piece of advice you’d give me, what would it be?’

“I said look, I don’t know what you’re going to do, where you’re going to go.

“But you’re going to need us [Scotland Yard]. Even if you change your sex, you will always be Diana, Princess of Wales.

“So I said I urge you, I urge you, not to lose the Scotland Yard security because we have given you that freedom, we’ve broken rules to allow you to have the normality that you crave for, and there’s no reason why that shouldn’t continue, even with me gone.

“Four weeks later, she abandoned the entire security.”

Watch The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show above

A ROYAL photographer who snapped the famous picture of Princess Kate after she bravely announced her cancer diagnosis said he was hounded by trolls.

Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show, Jim Bennett, who has spent years snapping the Firm, managed to pap the Princess of Wales as she left Windsor in a Land Rover with doting husband William.

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Jim Bennett, who captured the snap of Prince William and Princess Kate shortly after her cancer diagnosis, revealed he was trolled over itCredit: Bruce Bennett

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Kate’s last public appearance was at Wimbledon in July where she beamedCredit: Getty

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Kate also appeared at Trooping the Colour in JuneCredit: Splash
In the photo from March, Kate gazed out of her backseat window and appeared to have her hair tied back in a bun.

The mum-of-three was on her way to a private appointment in London while Wills was headed to a Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey later that day.

Shortly after the image was published by all newspapers, Jim was forced to confirm it had “not been doctored”.

Now speaking with The Sun’s Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson, he addressed online sleuths and conspiracy theorists who slandered his picture.

He said: “It was quite funny because I’d never been on that end of it before.

“I kept getting emails from these people saying ‘You’re a fraud. You’re a cheat. You’ve Photoshopped her into the picture. We’ve worked out the bricks in the wall’.”

Jim added on that day he was only out with the intention of snapping Wills and had no idea Kate would be next to him.

He explained the image was lightened in Photoshop to make it clearer – but that it was never changed.

He said: “My colleague and I were sent down to Windsor purely to get an early picture of William going to Westminster Abbey.

“We were struggling a little bit to be fair but as we were driving back we saw an outrider pull up.
Princess Kate makes first public appearance in a month
“My colleague was driving, I was in the passenger seat, so I jumped out the car and literally as this car come round the corner I got the pictures.

“My colleague said ‘Have you got William?’ and I said ‘Yeah great, we’ve got William, fine’.

“So we disappear to start looking at the pictures and then we notice there’s somebody sitting next to him.

“So we lighten the picture a little bit in Photoshop and sure enough it’s Kate.

“We then alert the office to let them know that she may be going to Westminster Abbey, because nobody knew to the extent of how ill she was, and then we sent a picture to you [The Sun’s Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson] to confirm it.”

Following her shock cancer diagnosis, Kate took a step back from royal duties.

Amid ongoing treatment, the royal has only attended two public events since Christmas Day last year.

She glowed at Trooping the Colour in June as royal fans erupted into cheer upon her arrival.

And, the Princess was met with a standing ovation at the Wimbledon men’s final the following month.

She was however, last weekend spotted for the first time in over a month as she stepped out with her family for church at Crathie Church, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Kate beamed in the front passenger seat next to Wills, who also grinned behind the wheel of their Range Rover Defender.

The Princess donned a light brown outfit paired with a pheasant feather hat, while William opted for a sophisticated navy suit.

Those close to him accept there is much work to do to heal the rifts he has created

PRINCE Harry is moaning to pals that he feels like The Spare again in exile in the US — and might want to come home.

The Duke, who wrote his memoir Spare about growing up in the shadow of heir to the throne brother William, is increasingly dissatisfied with life in California.

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Glum Prince Harry, seen with smiling wife Meghan in Colombia, is moaning to pals he feels like ‘The Spare’ again in exile in the StatesCredit: Splash

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The Duke is increasingly dissatisfied with life in CaliforniaCredit: Getty

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Harry wrote his memoir Spare about growing up in the shadow of heir to the throne WilliamCredit: AP
And in shock claims yesterday, he is said to be seeking guidance on a return to Britain — and to the Royal Family.

Harry, 39, has reportedly consulted his trusted former aides here after growing sick of the Hollywood reps he and wife Meghan employ.

Pals claim he feels he has lost his way and dislikes being overshadowed by her in public.

Meghan, 43, took centre stage during their visits to Nigeria in May and Colombia last month.

And those in Harry’s inner circle have noted that he seems to enjoy regular solo trips back to the UK, with Meghan refusing to set foot in the country.

His visit to the memorial of his uncle, Lord Fellowes, last week met with approval among those pals.

A source close to them told The Sun: “Harry is feeling more and more isolated in California, which is why he has been reconnecting with old friends back home.

“The Colombia trip also really highlighted how Meghan is comfortable stepping into the spotlight, while Harry cuts a very sulky, unhappy figure in the background.

“He wants to carve out a way back into royal life back in the UK and is seeking counsel from old friends and associates.”

But those close to him accept there is much work to do to heal the rifts he has created.
Harry & William have no chance of making up if they can’t even speak at their uncle’s funeral, says expert
In his 2023 memoir Spare, he took aim at his close family, accusing William of knocking him to the floor during a row.

He claimed William called Meghan “difficult”, “rude” and “abrasive” and that William’s wife, Kate, was cold towards her.

Royal biographer Angela Levin said he has cut an unhappy figure of late. She added: “You could say Harry is not even the spare to his wife. He’s almost nothing.

“She treats him horrendously. If you look at the filming of them in Colombia and Africa, he is not asked anything. He’s pushed out of the way.”

But she added: “I was completely and utterly astonished to learn that Harry is trying to call in his old friends to help him get back within his own family.”

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Harry is said to be seeking guidance on a return to Britain — and to the Royal FamilyCredit: Splash

We shared a sneak peek at William and Kate’s Scottish cottage in the video above

PRINCESS Kate delighted royal fans as she was spotted smiling as she arrived at church near Balmoral with Prince William last week.

The royal, 42, made her first public appearance in over a month as she headed to the Sunday service at Crathie Church, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

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Every summer, the royal family flocks to BalmoralCredit: Alamy

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Prince William and Princess Kate often stay in the modest three-bedroom cottage Tam-Na-GharCredit: Shutterstock
Every year the royal family flocks to Balmoral for their summer break to “let their hair down”, and it seems this year is no different – even for Princess Kate.

The Princess of Wales announced in March that she was undergoing preventative cancer treatment and she has only been seen a handful of times this year.

When William and Kate visit Balmoral, they don’t stay in the 52-bedroom castle like the rest of the family – but in their own countryside cottage.

Secret home

Tam-Na-Ghar is nestled in the grounds on the 5,000-acre estate, and was gifted to William by his late great-grandmother, the Queen Mother, before her death in 2002.

The three-bedroom cottage is a rather modest dwelling, certainly in comparison to the Wales family’s grand Anmer Hall in Norfolk.

They also have Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace which they used to live in full time, before relocating to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor.

It was constructed in the traditional style of Scottish lodges and very few photos are available of the house’s exterior and interior.

It is located near to Birkhall, the King’s large home on the bank of the River Muick, and is said to be surrounded by lush greenery.

While the home appears rather lowkey in appearance, it does have fond memories for the couple.
Inside Kate Middleton’s summer at Balmoral
University sweethearts Kate and William, who met at St Andrews, used to use the home as a hideaway when they were dating.

Some sources claim the couple hail their time at Tam-Na-Ghar as the site of some of their happiest times together over the years.

While Kate visited the home from as early as 2001, it wasn’t until 2009 that she visited Balmoral, which was a big step as she and William were not yet engaged.

Prince William previously gushed about how a “big part” of him is always in Scotland.

He told Country Life: “My family has deep connections there and it was such a fun part of my childhood and upbringing.”

It’s a long-held tradition for the royals to holiday at Balmoral during the summer, and they typically spend their time fishing, riding, walking and doing BBQs.

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William and Kate used to escape university life at Tam-Na-GharCredit: Shutterstock

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Kate was seen at Balmoral in 2019Credit: Rex Features

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William and Kate on the Balmoral estate in 2019 where they had lunch with The Queen, Prince Philip, Princess Anne and Captain Tim LawrenceCredit: Rex Features
While there are numerous rooms in the castle for family, there are said to be approximately 150 cottages on the large estate.

‘Positive sign’

The family break will be Kate’s longest trip away since her cancer diagnosis, as she continues to undergo treatment.

However, royal author Phil Dampier said that it is a “positive” sign in her recovery that the mum-of-three is planning to go to Scotland.

Speaking to Fabulous, he said: “The fact that Kate is well enough to travel to Scotland and enjoy a holiday at Balmoral is a sure sign she is on the mend and a very positive step.”

The Waleses will join King Charles and Queen Camilla, with the rest of the Royal Family in tow, at Balmoral, as reported by The Mail on Sunday.

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Some sources claim the couple hail their time at Tam-Na-Ghar as the site of some of their happiest times together over the yearsCredit: Getty

Room to run around

The Balmoral Estate is vast, and it now covers an area of approximately 50,000 acres of forestry, mountains and fields, with the scenic river Dee flowing through it.

Phil shared: “Obviously, there’s so much space up there, so the children can go off.

“I’m sure that George is of an age now where he’ll be fishing, possibly in the River Dee there.”

The estate and castle are privately owned by the Royal Family and are not the property of the Crown, which offers them a family break away from the public eye.

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The royals flock to Balmoral every year for fishing, hiking and bbqsCredit: Alamy
Phil said: “There’s so much space that they can go off for picnics, go off for massive long walks, and just enjoy the fresh air and the forest up there, and enjoy the freedom.

“They might get a pony up there and start doing some horse riding if they’re not already.

“That’s the sort of thing they’ll get up to.

“It’s all the typical traditional royal pursuits that they can enjoy if they want to up there.”

The royal expert said that Balmoral tips are “extremely private”, and added: “We don’t tend to see as many pictures as we used to; they tend to be left alone up there, and I’m sure that’s how they’ll like it.”

The category A listed Balmoral Castle- which costs around £3million annually to run – is breathtaking but can be fairly “drafty”, according to Phil.

During the stay, King Charles will stay at Birkhall with Queen Camilla, but they’ll “travel over for dinner and events and picnics”, claims Phil.

Inside Prince William and Prince Harry’s tense reunion – what really happened on secret visit

Prince William and Prince Harry both came together with other family members for the funeral of their uncle in Norfolk yesterday – and onlookers have described exactly what happened

Estranged brothers Princes William and Harry came together yesterday in a momentous meet, once again united in grief.

The pair, who have been embroiled in a bitter feud, both attended the funeral of their uncle Lord Robert Fellowes, who sadly died last month at the age of 82. Harry secretly flew from the US to join William at the service at St Mary’s Church in Snettisham where they paid their respects with their Spencer relatives.

It is the first time they have attended the same event since their father King Charles’ Coronation last May – although on that day, they did not sit together and weren’t spotted speaking. Previous reports say the pair have barely spoken since the funeral of the late Queen almost two years ago, with their relationship at such a low ebb, that sources said William would not want Harry at his Coronation when the time comes.

Princes William and Harry attended the funeral of their uncle Lord Robert Fellowes ( 
Image:
In Pictures via Getty Images)
But despite seemingly managing to put their differences aside for yesterday’s service, there were signs of them still keeping their distance from one another. According to The Sun, both brothers ‘discreetly’ attended the service, slipping in and out quietly. And during the service, they tragically sat apart at the back of the church.

One source told the paper how they only saw the brothers at the end of the service adding: “I didn’t know they were there. They arrived very discreetly.” While another noted they did not speak to each other, saying: “William and Harry were both there but we never saw them speak to each other and they were keeping their distance.”

Meanwhile, Reverend Dan Tansey, who led the service yesterday, has also told of what the brothers said to him after the service. He told The Sun: “It was only as I was greeting the congregation on the way out that Prince William was shaking my hand, and then very quickly after Prince Harry did too. It was a surprise but a really really pleasant surprise that they had both come. He added: “On the way out, they both said thank you for the service and I thanked them for coming.”

The pair are believed to have kept their distance at the service ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
After the service, which was described as a memorial rather than a funeral, a reception was held, which the vicar said was very relaxed and cordial. However, he added: “I don’t recollect them speaking to each other but there were a lot of family members and friends speaking to them.” The reverand also said it would have meant a lot to Lord Fellowes and his widow Jane, an older sister of Princess Diana, that both brothers made the service.

Elsewhere, royal biographer Ingrid Seward told the Mirror: “Harry is close to Robert Fellowes’ widow Jane. She and sister Sarah come to all of Harry’s UK events and were at Archie’s christening. The thought of having to see his estranged brother would not have worried Harry as much as the other way around. I am certain they were civil to each other. A funeral is not the time to settle scores. Or indeed a time to make up as Harry is well aware.”

The last time William and Harry were seen pictured next to each other was during a walkabout in Windsor with their wives in the days after their late grandmother death in September 2022. Since then, Harry has railed against his royal relatives, especially William, in his bombshell Netflix series and in his explosive memoir, Spare, in which he accused William of pushing him into a dog bowl in a row over Meghan.

William and wife Kate with Harry and wife Meghan in the days after the late Queen’s death in September 2022 ( 
Image:

Earlier this month, The Sunday Times reported that William is unlikely to forgive his younger brother any time soon for his digs against wife Kate in Spare. One friend told the paper: “They are estranged, which is dreadfully sad”, while another added that Harry rarely comes up in conversation with William and explained: “This year his focus has very much been on his wife, his children and his father.”

Meanwhile, Harry’s trip to the UK comes just days before the 27th anniversary of the death of his and William’s late mother Princess Diana. It was on August 31, 1997 that she died at the age of 36 following a fatal car crash in Paris, meaning tomorrow is the sad anniversary of her death.

In many of his recent public appearances, Harry has referenced Diana and her legacy, including last month when he controversially received the Pat Tillman award at the ESPYs for his work setting up his successful Invictus Games for injured servicemen and women.

William and Harry’s uncle Lord Fellowes, who was laid to rest yesterday, was married Diana’s older sister, Jane for over 45 years. They had three children – Laura, Alexander and Eleanor – who are all cousins of William and Harry. Laura is also godmother to William and wife Kate’s only daughter, Princess Charlotte.

Lord Fellowes was also private secretary to the late Queen in the 1990s, including when Charles and Diana’s marriage broke down. He also advised the late monarch when Fergie and Prince Andrew’s marriage ended and Windsor Castle went up in flames, destroying 115 rooms in 1992. He was still in the role when his sister-in-law, Diana, tragically died in a Paris car crash at the age of 36.

His role as a palace courtier meant he often had a strained relationship with his sister-in-law, but when she died suddenly, he said: “I was deeply fond of her. She was a very good person. She found it difficult in life to find happiness, and I’m sad for people who have that situation.” Kensington Palace declined to comment.

Prince Harry says he wasn’t allowed to get close to royals as ‘distance was essential’

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left the Royal Family four years ago and have since spoken out about life behind palace walls, with Harry making an emotional admission

Prince Harry has made a heartbreaking admission about his time in the Royal Family as he said “distance was essential”.

The Duke of Sussex stepped down as a senior working royal four years ago and has opened up about life behind Palace walls in the years since. Harry has made a number of bombshell claims about the royals in various interviews and even released an explosive memoir, Spare. In the book, he said could “never cross that chasm” and be close with his family. Harry even claimed to have been denied hugs and kisses when he was a child.

Harry wrote: “As a Royal you were always taught to maintain a buffer zone between you and the rest of Creation. Even working a crowd you always kept a discreet distance between Yourself and Them.” He said distance was “an essential bit of being royal,” and revealed it didn’t just relate to crowds. He explained: “Family included distance as well. No matter how much you might love someone, you could never cross that chasm between, say, monarch and child. Or Heir and Spare. Physically, but also emotionally.”

He said he wasn’t given the chance to be close to the Royal Family ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
Harry said his brother Prince William would often ask him to give him space and said the older generation of the Royal Family “maintained a nearly zero-tolerance prohibition on all physical contact”. This included no hugs, no kisses and no pats. On special occasions, however, the Duke of Sussex said their might be “a light touching of cheeks.” In Spare, Harry detailed his childhood in the public eye as well as his experience with drugs in his older years. He also opened up about an explosive row he had with his brother William, during which the Prince of Wales allegedly called Harry’s wife Meghan “difficult”, “rude” and “abrasive”. Harry claims his brother then “grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor”.

Princess Diana ‘would still be alive’ had three things been different, says bodyguard

As admirers mark 27 years since Princess Diana’s death following a car crash in Paris, her ex-bodyguard Ken Wharfe says three things could have prevented the tragedy

It’s 27 years since Princess Diana died in a tragic crash alongside Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul in Paris (
Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Princess Diana wouldn’t have died had she had a better security team with her at the time of the Paris crash, her former bodyguard has claimed.

Admirers of the royal marked 27 years since her passing on Saturday after she was killed in the 1997 smash while escaping paparazzi with partner Dodi Fayed. Mr Fayed, 42, and driver Henri Paul both also died in the collision, while the filmmaker’s bodyguard Trevor Rees-Jones survived.

It later emerged how Ritz security chief Mr Paul had been drinking before getting behind the wheel and was driving at a high speed when he lost control in the Pont de l’Alma underpass, striking a pillar. Now one of Diana’s former security officers has spoken out, sharing his concerns the royal could still be alive today had three things been different.

Princess Diana pictured with Ken Wharfe while on a visit to Manchester in 1991 ( 
Image:
Mirrorpix)
Ken Wharfe served as Diana’s personal protection officer between 1987 and 1993 when the mother faced intense scrutiny over the breakdown of her marriage to the then-Prince Charles and subsequent relationships. Ken insists the tragedy would never have happened had Mr Rees-Jones offered to drive instead of Mr Paul.

“The one thing that would have saved Diana’s life that night would have been if they’d kicked out the chauffeur and for Rees-Jones to have driven,” he told The Sun. The ex-bodyguard claims this never happened due to Dodi being a “difficult” employer meaning staff could not tell him what to do.

Princess Diana and bodyguard Trevor Rees Jones with driver Henri Paul and Dodi Al Fayed on the night she died ( 
Image:
PA)
Had Rees-Jones taken command and booted Mr Paul from the driver’s seat, the crash would likely have never happened, he added. The couple had tried to divert press on the night of the smash, leaving Dodi’s car with his usual driver parked outside the Ritz’s main entrance before sneaking out the back.

But Ken believes had they not tried to “goad” media, this may also have changed the outcome on the night of August 30, 1997. He said that, because of their tactic, local police were not involved. He also believes that, had Diana kept Scotland Yard security following the separation from Charles, this may also have affected the tragic outcome.

Ken Wharfe worked for Diana as a protection officer for six years ( 
Image:
Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)DON’T MISS
Wharfe stepped down in 1993 but says Diana was not urged to keep her protection squad. “Had the Queen insisted that Diana retain her Scotland Yard security, Diana would have accepted it,” he said.

He says he had told Diana “you’re going to need us [Scotland Yard]” in a private meeting at Kensington Palace three weeks after he resigned, telling her “you’re always going to be Princess of Wales”. Despite his warning, Diana later abandoned her security four weeks later.

Real reason Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s chief of staff quit after just three months

It has been reported that Prince Harry’s new chief of staff Josh Kettler has left his position with the Duke of Sussex after just three months in the job ahead of Harry and Meghan Markle’s upcoming tour to Colombia

Prince Harry (
Image: Getty Images for Project Healthy Minds)

Prince Harry’s new chief of staff has shockingly quit after just three months into the job – and the reason why has been revealed.

Josh Kettler, a seasoned public relations professional, started his role with the Duke of Sussex just before his and Meghan Markle’s three-day trip to Nigeria in May. He was also seen with Harry at St Paul’s Cathedral on his last trip to London when he attended a 10th-anniversary service for his Invictus Games. But Mr Kettler has left his post after he was reportedly hired to “guide him [Harry] through his next phase”. It is understood that Mr Kettler’s decision to leave was ‘mutual’ and that he was hired on a trial basis, with “both sides agreeing it wasn’t the right fit”.

Prince Harry’s former chief of staff Josh Kettler ( 
Image:
Getty Images for Invictus Games Foundation)

Harry at St Paul’s Cathedral in May ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
Mr Kettler had been based in Santa Barbara, near to the Sussexes’ Montecito home and had previously been chief of staff and head of strategic partnerships at the communication platform Cognixion. He had also worked for outdoor clothing brand Patagonia.

Harry and Meghan have lost several employees since making the move to California, with one former staffer telling the publication: “What may be most telling is that the entire time I worked there, I don’t think I heard a single current or former employee on their staff say they would take the job again if given the chance.

“These aren’t employees they had just found off the streets. Many of them are people who had previously excelled working for demanding bosses in high-performance companies and environments.”

News of Mr Kettler’s departure comes ahead of Harry and Meghan’s upcoming ‘royal-style’ tour to Colombia. The couple received an invitation to visit the South American nation from the country’s vice president Francia Marquez.

The couple will travel to the capital Bogota and the coastal areas of the country. Ms Marquez, a lawyer and human rights and environmental activist said in a statement: “During their trip, the duke and duchess will join me in visiting Bogota, as well as the Caribbean and Pacific regions of Cartagena and Cali.

“In these vibrant locations, they will have the exceptional opportunity to engage with leaders, youth and women who embody the aspirations and voices of Colombians committed to progress. In addition to these meaningful interactions, the duke and duchess will experience the rich heritage of Colombia.”

The Sussexes’ trip to Colombia will be their second official tour of the year after they visited Nigeria in May taking part in a range of activities over three days. The Mirror has contacted Harry’s representatives for comment.

Prince Harry pressured by ‘angry’ King Charles to make big move and ‘get round Meghan problem’

Prince Harry could reunite with Prince William and King Charles could see more of Archie and Lilibet according to a Royal expert – who claims a bold move would not need to include Meghan…

Meghan rarely heads over to the United Kingdom (
Image: UK Press via Getty Images)

Prince Harry is being pressured by his dad King Charles to make a bold move to resolve the feud with his brother Prince William – and “neatly get around the problem of Meghan Markle”.

That’s according to a Royal expert, who has suggested Princes Harry and William could be on the brink of mending their strained relationship, due to “pressure” from their father, King Charles III. Tom Quinn, a Royal commentator and author, has revealed that the Duke of Sussex is being urged by the King to find a UK residence so that Charles can spend more quality time with his grandchildren, Archie and Lillibet. This move could potentially pave the way for a reunion between the two brothers on British soil. However, Mr Quinn doubts that Meghan Markle would accompany her husband, given her past negative experiences with the Royal Family.

Prince William is no longer close to his brother ( 
Image:
Yui Mok – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, Mr Quinn stated: “King Charles has been putting pressure on Harry to do just this as he is angry that his only relationship with his grandchildren so far is via video calls, which Charles hates. William and Kate’s children would spend the weekend at Highgrove and Harry’s children could then easily pop over from their house nearby. This would neatly get round the problem of Meghan – she just wouldn’t need to be there and the children could be whisked back to the States after a week or two.”

Despite Quinn’s speculations, Harry’s life is currently rooted in the US and he has previously discussed the possibility of becoming an American citizen. During an interview with Good Morning America, he was asked whether he had considered applying for citizenship in the States.During an interview with William Reeve, Prince Harry was quizzed: “Do you feel American?” To which he candidly replied: “Do I feel American? No… I don’t know how I feel.”

Charles wants to see more of Harry’s children ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

On the topic of potentially applying for American citizenship, Harry admitted: “I have no idea. I’m here standing next to these guys. The American citizenship is a thought that has crossed my mind, but certainly not something that is a priority for me right now.” Meanwhile, Meghan Markle appears to be thoroughly enjoying her Californian lifestyle, and Royal author Omid Scobie suggests she may never return to British soil. In his explosive book ‘Endgame’, Scobie writes that Meghan “never felt at home” in the UK and is adamant about not wanting to “set foot again in England. “Despite not attending King Charles’ Coronation last May nor accompanying Harry to his Invictus Games event earlier this year, Scobie alleges that Meghan’s absence is due to her reluctance to “dive back into the soap opera of the court”.