Prince Philip has 'walked away' from Harry, Meghan Markle after grandson's 'alien behavior': Royal biographer
A royal expert claims that Prince Philip has "walked away" from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after his grandson's "alien behavior" and the "great shock" of Megxit. The 99-year-old Duke of Edinburgh was "dismayed and deeply upset" over Megxit, Ingrid Seward told Vanity Fair's Katie Nicholl. According to her, Philip initially "quite liked" the 39-year-old Duchess of Sussex, but now likens her to Wallis Simpson, who caused then-King Edward VIII to abdicate from the throne when they married in 1937. Furthermore, Philip is "unable to comprehend" why 36-year-old Prince Harry would leave The Firm. "His grandson’s behavior is completely alien to him, so not unnaturally the relationship has suffered," Seward told the magazine.
The royal expert has penned a new biography 'Prince Philip Revealed'. She told Vanity Fair that the once close relationship shared by the Duke and his grandson hasn't healed since the latter announced with his wife they would step down as senior royals in January. Seward said Philip "could neither understand nor relate" to Harry's decision to part ways from the Royal Family. Furthermore, the author said he was "dismayed" by the manner in which they made the announcement.
Prince Philip, who gave up his naval career to support the Queen, 94, when she was crowned in 1952, is considered the head of the family - despite the Queen being the head of state. According to Seward, the Duke was hurt that his advice to Meghan and Harry on royal life was for nothing.
Coming to his health, Seward said Philip's eyesight is failing and he has become "very hard of hearing" at his age. Nonetheless, the Duke managed to pass the time during the months of lockdown writing letters, reading, and fishing. "He also loves watching cooking programs. He loves Mary Berry," Seward revealed, adding that the Duke spends hours to look "his best" for royal appearances and gets up "as early as necessary' to arrive on time. "He’s a proud man, he doesn’t want to be seen with a stick and would never consider a Zimmer frame," she said.
Just weeks earlier, Seward told Sky News how Prince Philip was "very, very disappointed" by Meghan Markle's failure to "support the monarchy."
"I think he's very, very disappointed because I think he feels he gave up his naval career in order to stand by the Queen and help the monarchy," she said. "And why can't Meghan just give up her acting career, support her husband and support the monarchy? As he used to say to Diana, this is not a popularity contest, this is all of us working together. He just cannot understand why she couldn't support Harry and help him rather than wanting to have her voice."
The duke allegedly didn't want to be a part of discussions in Sandringham in January about the Sussexes' future outside The Firm. "Of course, it irritates him hugely. And when they had the Sandringham Summit, Prince Philip was seen leaving the house very swiftly before they all arrived," she noted, adding: "He simply doesn't want to get involved anymore."