Princess Delphine has expressed her sympathy for Prince Harry amid his rift with the royal family

Prince Harry has received unexpected sympathy from European royalty, specifically from Princess Delphine of Belgium, who said she “feels sorry” for the Duke of Sussex and believes much of his behaviour stems from unresolved trauma.

In a candid conversation on the It’s Reigning Men podcast, the Belgian royal opened up about her empathy for Harry, referencing the tragic loss of his mother, Princess Diana, and the ongoing scrutiny he faces in the public eye.

Princess Delphine has expressed her sympathy for Prince Harry amid his reported rift with the royal family (Credit: Cover Images)

Princess Delphine of Belgium shares thoughts on Prince Harry

“I do follow a little bit of Harry because Lady Diana was just part of my life when I was in England,” Delphine explained. “Then she had these children and everything, and then this death was just horrible. They lost such an important figure. I feel very sorry for Harry because I think that was traumatic for him.”

Delphine, who is the half-sister of King Philippe of Belgium, continued to speak compassionately about the Duke of Sussex’s well-documented struggles. She also touched on his ongoing battle for security for his family after he stepped back from royal duties in 2020.

“I think Harry suffered so much. I think he was traumatised and it’s coming out now,” she said. “This thing about security, I think it’s to do with what happened to his mother. I understand the guy. He’s just traumatised.

“And I understand, so he’s doing these things, and everybody’s bullying him, but not thinking about his trauma. And I just find it terrible because he’s just been kind of left.”

Delphine’s perspective offers a rare note of public empathy from a fellow royal, and her own story may explain why.

I understand the guy. He’s just traumatised.

Born from an alleged 18-year-long affair between Baroness Sybille de Selys Longchamps and the former King Albert II of Belgium, Delphine spent most of her life outside the royal fold.

After a long legal battle, she won the right to use the title of princess in 2020, following a court-ordered DNA test that confirmed Albert II was her biological father.

Although she was eventually granted royal status and the style of “Her Royal Highness,” Delphine has expressed that her acceptance into the family hasn’t been entirely complete.

“It’s still not right,” she said, referring to her exclusion from the official line of succession to the Belgian throne.

Prince Harry recently admitted that he would love to reconcile with his family (Credit: SplashNews)

Prince Harry’s ‘rift’ with the royal family

Meanwhile, Prince Harry’s relationship with the royal family remains tense years after he and Meghan Markle stepped back from their royal roles and moved to the US.

The couple officially exited as working royals in 2020. They have since spoken out in interviews, documentaries, and Harry’s memoir Spare about their struggles within the monarchy.

Despite the reported rift, Harry, 40, has recently expressed a clear desire to reconcile.

In a BBC interview in May, he said: “I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious. I don’t know how much longer my father has.”

His father, King Charles, continues to undergo treatment for cancer.

Harry is also reportedly planning to invite members of the royal family to the 2027 Invictus Games held in the UK.

Recent reports suggest aides for both King Charles and the Sussexes held a quiet “peace summit” in London, sparking hopes that a family reunion might be a possibility.