Prince Harry to skip traditional Christmas hunt to please animal-loving wife Meghan Markle sparking more controversy inside royal circle
Prince Harry will not be attending the traditional royal family Boxing Day pheasant hunting along with his brother Prince William at Sandringham in order to prevent upsetting his animal-lover wife Meghan Markle.
Prince Harry and Prince William's father Prince Charles will be present at the shoot as well as Prince William's son Prince George. The 34-year-old Duke of Sussex has been participating in the event for more than 20 years. However, his wife opposes blood sports and refuses to use fur.
The brothers have been hunting together over the past two decades and it has given them an opportunity to build and secure their brotherly bond. According to royal watchers, Harry's absence is only going to worsen the reported tensions and feud between their wives Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton.
As reported by Mirror, a source shared, "William sees this as another concerning example of his brother being pulled away from his family by his new wife. Harry’s always loved hunting and it has provided them with a great chance to bond as brothers. But now it looks like Harry’s shooting days are over. It’s the latest point of contention between the princes after a testing time in their relationship."
It is believed that Meghan's dislike and disapproval of hunting had initially created some issues last year especially when her husband Prince Harry participated in a wild boar hunt in Germany. This year, he has decided to sit out the royal family Boxing Day hunt and insiders share that Harry's life has changed a lot since meeting the American actress.
One time, when the "party prince" took Meghan to Jamaica to celebrate the wedding of his best friend Tom Inskip, the couple were reportedly the first to retire to their bedroom. Prince Harry has also become quite distant from the friends that he grew up with.
The staff who work for Prince Harry at the Kensington Palace have also experienced a lot of changes with two members choosing to resign from their jobs since Meghan arrived. The latest hunt snub follows a string of rumors and reported tiffs between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and Prince William and Kate Middleton.