SOLO SUSSEX?
‘Harry No Mates’ has only ‘ONE pal left in the UK’ after Meghan row, claims royal expert – following his 26-hour trip
A royal expert claims tensions are running high between Harry and William
PRINCE Harry dedicatedly flew 5,000 miles to be by his father’s side following his cancer diagnosis - but jetted back to LA just 26 hours later.
During the whistlestop visit, the Duke of Sussex reportedly didn’t meet with brother Prince William and had little time to catch up with UK pals either.
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Royal author Phil Dampier claimed to Fabulous that Prince Harry appears to have just “one friend” left this side of the pond.
He stated: “It does seem odd that Harry likes flying in and out for less than two days.
“He did the same with the Coronation and it looks as though he is just not interested in seeing any of his old friends.
“He has become Harry No Mates as far as the UK is concerned.
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“The one friend he still has in the UK who could help build bridges is Mark Dyer, who was a royal equerry and acted as a second dad to Harry and William after Diana’s death.
“But if he did see him on this trip it can’t have been for long.”
Mark is one of the few palace insiders still in touch with the Sussexes - after his son Jasper was a page boy at their wedding.
He could be an especially important source of advice and reassurance for Harry now - having recovered from stomach cancer himself.
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After seeing King Charles for just 30 minutes at Clarence House, Harry did not spend the night on the royal estate and is thought to have stayed in a hotel instead.
Phil added: “I suspect Harry just crashed out for the night where he was staying and it seems he couldn’t get back to Meghan quickly enough.
60 Second Briefing Charles and Harry reunite after cancer diagnosis
“He clearly regards this country as his past and really has begun a new life.”
Phil claimed that Prince Harry has cut out many of his old UK friends as they “didn’t take to Meghan and he resented it.”
However, many of Prince Harry’s stateside friendships are “flourishing”, with Phil adding: “Guy Pelly lives in the States as his wife is American, and he visits him.
“Other relationships have flourished, for example with polo pal Nacho Figueras, who recently accompanied him on a trip to Asia.
“He is full of praise for Harry and they have become close.”
William and Harry have not spoken for more than a year, it is understood, and they didn’t meet up during Harry’s transatlantic dash to London.
The Prince of Wales instead "remains focused" on looking after wife Kate Middleton, who is currently recovering from abdominal surgery.
The one friend he still has in the UK who could help build bridges is Mark Dyer, who was a royal equerry and acted as a second dad to Harry and William after Diana’s death.
Phil Dampier
Dad-of-three Wills is helping out as Kate takes extended leave from public duties until after Easter.
The royal expert added: “I don’t think anyone was surprised that Harry didn’t meet his brother William on his whistle-stop visit to the UK.
“They are as far apart as ever and William’s priority is to look after Kate as she recovers from abdominal surgery and to step up his royal duties to cover for the King.”
The meeting between Harry and Charles, without the Duchess of Sussex and their children, raised hopes they will be reconciled despite their troubled relationship.
It was the first time he and Charles had met in private since Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022, though they have been in telephone contact.
Charles looked happy with the reunion as he was pictured for the first time since the Palace announced his cancer diagnosis on Monday.
They [Harry and William] are as far apart as ever and William’s priority is to look after Kate as she recovers from abdominal surgery and to step up his royal duties to cover for the King.
Phil Dampier
Phil said: “I think we should just regard this as a first step, an ice breaker if you like, and hopefully they can build on it.
“The key will be what happens in the next few days and weeks.”
The Duke of Sussex was pictured arriving at London Heathrow at 1.30pm on Wednesday - just 26 hours after landing at 12.30pm on Tuesday.
It is thought he was returning to be with wife Meghan, and their two kids, Archie, four, and Lilibet, two, in their Californian home.
Prince William returned to engagements yesterday as he hosted an investiture at Windsor Castle.
The dad-of-three handed out 50 MBE honours on behalf of the king, including one to Patricia Spruce for her work recruiting foreign medics for the NHS.
Patricia later claimed on LinkedIn: "Prince William said that Catherine had two Filipino nurses looking after her and they were amazing and kind."
England footballer Ellen White was also made a Member of the Order of the British Empire.
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William also attended the London Air Ambulance fundraising gala in London's Raffles Hotel in the evening.
In his first comments since King Charles’s cancer diagnosis and Kate’s abdominal op, Wills told well-wishers: “We really appreciate everyone’s kind messages. Thank you."
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