Prince Harry ditches royal summer shoot… and people think Meghan Markle is to blame
The Duke of Sussex has been participating in grouse hunts from a young age with Prince Charles and Prince William
THE Royal Family went on their annual summer holiday to Balmoral over the bank holiday weekend and as always the traditional grouse hunt took place.
Even little Prince George raised eyebrows by taking part in his first shoot, but one member of family was noticeably absent – Prince Harry.
Royal fans were left querying why the Duke of Sussex didn’t take part in the hunt, particularly as he has been involved since he was a youngster with Prince Charles and Prince William.
The couple were believed to be staying with the Queen at her Aberdeenshire estate, so what was reason behind him missing out?
Some people have speculated that Prince Harry shunning the activity is down to Meghan Markle.
Last Boxing Day he also backed out of the traditional family grouse hunt, so as not to upset animal-loving wife.
Keen gun Harry, 33, who first took part in the hunt over 21 years ago, surprised gamekeepers at Sandringham with his decision at Christmas.
Dad Prince Charles and brother Prince William took part in the December annual ritual on the 20,000-acre estate.
A royal insider said: “The Boxing Day shoot was always going to be a tricky issue. Meghan is a keen animal rights campaigner and doesn’t like hunting in any form."
“Harry loves it and has always been out there on Boxing Day. But if it means breaking with long-standing royal traditions to avoid upsetting her, so be it. It’s fair to say that there are some pretty stunned faces around here.”
Meghan previously championed her love of animals by refusing to wear leather or fur, has adopted rescue dogs, and has said in the past she tries to eat vegan during the week days.
A pal of Harry’s added: “If Meghan’s not comfortable with him doing the shoot, he wouldn’t want to upset her.”
Kensington Palace declined to comment today.
The Queen reportedly drove her Range Rover to witness Prince George, five, make the major milestone of his first grouse shoot.
Prince Charles joined for lunch, alongside Prince Edward, Sophie Wessex with Zara and Mike Tindall.
A source said: “It was a very jolly family lunch. The men and Princess Anne all shoot in the morning, then the wives and children join the party for the shoot lunch on the moor.”
Prince William also started shooting as a youngster.
He was snapped in 1994, aged 12, when he killed his first stab with a single shot.
William was believed to have been “blooded”- smeared on the forehead with the blood of the animal.
This followed his dad Charles’s initiation more than 30 years before.
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