Prince Harry is “no longer royal” in the eyes of the Royal Family, according to former royal butler Paul Burrell has said
The Duke of Sussex was in the UK last night as he appeared at a charity event, presenting an award and giving a speech.
He is understood to have headed straight to Germany this morning for the start of the Invictus Games. As a result, he will not be marking the first year anniversary of the Queen’s death with his family or even his wife and children as they are at home in California.
But the former royal butler doesn’t believe Prince Harry would be welcome as the Royal Family privately commemorate the first anniversary of the late Queen’s death and claims they have “pulled the drawbridge up” on Harry.
In the interview with Slingo, he added that the royal rift has “grown so wide now” that it’s “irreparable”.
Burrell said: “Why would they want to embrace him on a day which is very close to their hearts?’
“I don’t think he will [be invited to private commemorations]. I think the Royal Family have pulled the drawbridge up and they are combining forces now and sticking together because they’re hurt, they feel hurt by his comments in many different outlets now.
“This goes on for quite a few years before the Queen’s death and I think they feel it’s unforgivable what he’s done and said, and so why would they want to embrace him on a day which is very close to their hearts.
“So I think the King will be spending this time at Balmoral with his Queen, and his family around him.”
According to Burrell, who is a former servant of the British Royal Household and latterly butler to Diana, Princess of Wales, his family now see Harry as a celebrity rather than a royal.
He said: “Harry is no longer invited to family functions. He’s no longer invited into their fold. Now he’s no longer royal in their eyes.
“He’s a celebrity. He’s hurt them: he’s hurt his father, his brother, sister-in-law, his stepmother. I mean, really, he’s been quite ruthless in hurting so many people.”
Burrell also thinks that the only person who could now repair the rift is Harry’s mother, the late Princess Diana.
He said: “All the people that were there in Diana’s world, he’s managed to take a swipe at, other than the Spencers. They seem to have escaped his wrath.
“But the people who were certainly there at the time, including myself, have suffered barbed comments and quite frankly, he upset his grandmother towards the end of her life, brought worries to her door which she didn’t understand.
“That rift has grown so wide now. I don’t think it can be bridged. I think it’s irreparable.
“I think the only person that could have mended it would have been Diana and she’s not here.”
Prince Harry was arrived in the UK yesterday (Thursday, September 7) for a charity event ahead of travelling to Germany for the Invictus Games.
An Express.co.uk poll says 88 per cent of our readers do not think that Harry should join the Royal Family on the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death.
