09 June 2024 , 18:03
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Prince Harry is thought to have found this year's D-Day commemorations a 'bittersweet experience', according to a royal expert.
The Duke of Sussex, who stepped back from royal duties in 2020 including his patronage to the military, is said to have "deep regrets" that he wasn't able to take part in the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landing in Normandy this week.
Royal author and expert Tom Quinn exclusively told the Mirror: "The one time in Harry‘s life when he felt he was admired for his own abilities and not just for being a member of the royal family was during his time in the military. Military service gave him more satisfaction and happiness than anything other than meeting Meghan and having children. He will have certainly been aware of everything that took place on D-Day and deeply regretted that he was not able to be part of it."
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Prince Harry is said to have 'deep regrets' at missing the 80th D-Day commemorations this year (AFP via Getty Images)He continued: "Seeing the other senior Royals attend the D-Day commemorations will have been a bittersweet experience for Harry – on the one hand huge relief that by not being there he’s avoided the horrendous difficulties of meeting and greeting members of his family with whom he has fallen out so badly. On the other hand, he will have hated not being able to attend an event that means so much to anyone who has served in the armed services. The truth is Harry feels more affinity with the military than he feels with his family."
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The comments come as Prince Harry also missed out on another occasion this weekend, as he didn't attend his long-time friend Hugh Grosvenor's, the Duke of Westminster, wedding in Chester on Friday. Hugh, who is also godfather to Harry's son Archie, is also a close friend of Prince William and it's thought that Harry avoided the wedding to avoid seeing his older brother as the royal rift continues.
According to The Times, Harry was invited to Hugh's wedding, but then over a phone call with the groom agreed to stay away in what is described as a "civilised understanding". This move in turn cleared the way for William to perform his job as usher at the ceremony, where he was seen entering the Chester cathedral through a side door on Friday.
Prince Harry is said to feel "more affinity with the military than he feels with his family" (Getty Images)In another claim, an insider told the New York Post that "Harry actually got a 'save the date' card a few months ago but called Hugh and said it would be too awkward if he and Meghan Markle attended, so he made his apologies and Hugh understood."
This isn't the first of Harry's pals weddings that he has missed, with him appearing to stay away alongside wife Meghan Markle. The Sussexes were notably absent for Harry's former military pal Jack Mann's exchange of vows with wife Isabella Clark in Suffolk last summer. The guests that day included Harry's friend Thomas van Straubenzee, who is the godfather of his niece, Princess Charlotte.