Harry banished childhood friend Tom 'Skippy' Inskip for doubting Meghan before their marriage, claims new book
A new book has revealed that one of the closest pals of Prince Harry had expressed reservations about Meghan Markle before the couple got engaged, but was “punished” for advising the duke. Tom "Skippy" Inskip and Harry had been close since their time at Eton. However, he was banished from the 35-year-old’s tight-knit group after he expressed his “doubts” for the former ‘Suits’ actress.
The biography, ‘Finding Freedom’, by Carolyn Durand and Omid Scobie has claimed that Inskip also asked his friend to live in with Meghan before “doing anything more serious”. An insider close to the Sussexes told the book’s writers that Inskip’s advice “came from a good place”, but Harry “didn’t totally see it that way”. “It really hurt him that someone he was so close to would not trust his judgment,” added the source, who reportedly spoke to the authors with the permission of the couple.
According to reports, his friend’s advice hurt Harry so much that he “punished” him and his wife Lara by not inviting them to his and the 39-year-old’s wedding party at Frogmore House. Inskip and his wife were treated as outsiders while the pair’s new friends such as Oprah Winfrey and George Clooney made their way to the event.
However, this is not the first time the relationship between Harry and Inskip has been under scrutiny. Earlier reports have also claimed that how the father-of-one ousted his closest pal from his inner circle because he advised him against marrying Meghan. An article that was published in the May issue of Tatler stated that: “Hang out with the Clooney/Beckham/Soho House set and be assailed for being too Hollywood, for forcing your hen-pecked husband to abandon his old, country-set muckers – including Tom "Skippy" Inskip, the ultra-loyal, tight-lipped Harry pal, who, it’s said, advised Harry not to marry Meghan and has paid the price: banishment."
Meanwhile, a royal commentator has claimed that Harry hates being seen as a “loose cannon” while Prince William is considered “the sensible one”. The upcoming book has laid bare the alleged rift between the royal brothers. The biography has stated that Harry also did not like his elder brother’s advice when he asked him not to rush into marrying “this girl”, referring to Meghan.
“It’s perfectly legitimate for William, as future king, to suggest this to his brother, but sadly Harry interpreted his advice as an anti-Meghan attack,” said Duncan Larcombe. The journalist also stated that the book’s claims that it was always “William the calm and rational one” would annoy the younger brother. Larcombe continued: “Harry once told me that he really resents the perception that William’s the sensible one while he’s the loose cannon. He said there were times when it was actually Harry giving William advice.”
But the commentator also mentioned that royal fans would love to see Harry and William together just like earlier times. He added, “They’re like the royal version of the Gallagher brothers. Just as we’re still waiting for Liam and Noel to hug and make up, we want Harry and William back on the royal stage together.”