Prince Harry must feel “more spare than ever” following his sister-in-law, Princess Kate’s cancer diagnosis announcement, a royal expert has claimed.
The Princess of Wales shocked the public last month when she announced she’s been diagnosed with a type of cancer, following her abdominal surgery back in January.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who are said to have found out about the devastating news at the same time as the rest of the world, quickly released a public statement wishing the future queen “health and healing”, while they are also said to have contacted the Wales family privately.
Now royal expert Dr Tessa Dunlop has come out and claimed the latest revelations may have heightened Harry’s beliefs about his place in the family.
She told the Mirror: “Harry is the self-identifying royal ‘Spare’. And in the wake of his sister-in-law’s health revelations, I expect he feels more spare than ever.”
The expert added that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are “on the back foot” and warned them to plan their next public move with “extreme care” as timing and optics matter like never before.”
She explained: “I feel compassion for Harry and Meghan. No, they don’t have cancer, and yes, they have been publicly critical of the British Royal Family. But in our own families, how many of us hold back our feelings on the off-chance a sibling or sister-in-law might get sick? I rest my case.
“But while it is not entirely their fault, the Sussexes are now on the back foot. Harry’s book ‘Spare’ is permanent proof that he and one of the world’s most famous women, Kate, are no longer close. (Let’s not mention William).
“Beyond the uncomfortable optics, it is also possible that the Sussex brand will have taken a knock. Firstly, hard though it may be to believe, the public only has so much bandwidth for royal celebrity, and right now it is Kate who is the global icon. That she would rather not be, especially in such unhappy circumstances, garners her all the more sympathy.”
“Sure, Harry and Meghan had a right to complain about press intrusion and difficult dynamics within the institution of royalty. But can anything compare with the nightmare assault on Kate over the last two months?[…]”
Ms Dunlop claimed Harry and Meghan have promoted themselves as “the alternative to royalty, the couple who believed in service outside monarchy”.
She said: “Duchess Meghan is using more than a touch of regal glamour to brand her new site, American Riveria Orchard.
“Meanwhile, Harry is the self-identifying royal ‘Spare’. And in the wake of his sister-in-law’s health revelations, I expect he feels more spare than ever.
“The Sussexes must plan their next public move with extreme care. The timing and optics matter like never before.”
