- No matter how long Prince Harry is away from the royal family, the Queen will always be willing to welcome him back, a royal expert says.
- Royal biographer Andrew Morton says the Queen sees a lot of her younger sister, Princess Margaret, in Harry and "doesn't want history to repeat itself" by shutting him out.
- "The Queen also knew Margaret sometimes felt like an outsider and I think that’s why she has made sure the door is always open for Harry to return to the royal fold," Morton explained. "She will have a lot of empathy and sympathy for him because she grew up watching her younger sister act the role of the spare, which is not easy."
The Queen is never going to give up on Prince Harry or close the door to him returning to the royal family, one expert says. Why? Because growing up with her younger sister, Princess Margaret, gave the Queen a lot of empathy for Harry, according to royal biographer Andrew Morton.
Speaking to Vanity Fair while promoting his latest royal biography, Elizabeth & Margaret: The Intimate World of the Windsor Sisters, Morton explained how Margaret's experiences in the royal family shaped Queen Elizabeth's approach to handling Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal exit.
"I think the Queen knows that being the spare is hard and a part of her recognizes that Harry was a sometimes a bit of a lost soul just like her sister," Morton said. "She has always wanted to protect Harry and I think in part that’s because she watched Margaret fall victim to the system. Shutting out Margaret didn’t help and the Queen has learned from that. She didn’t want history to repeat itself with Harry."
Morton says there are a lot of parallels between Harry and Margaret, who was known as a "royal rebel."
"When you compare personalities, Harry is like Margaret, a royal rebel," Morton explained. "Margaret once said ‘disobedience is my joy’ and you see some of that in Harry. The Queen also knew Margaret sometimes felt like an outsider and I think that’s why she has made sure the door is always open for Harry to return to the royal fold. She will have a lot of empathy and sympathy for him because she grew up watching her younger sister act the role of the spare, which is not easy."
Whether it's because of his similarities to her sister or not, the Queen and Harry have always had a special bond, and that clearly hasn't changed since the royal exit.
"She has a lot of affection for Harry. She was there the day Harry lost his mother and has been there for him ever since," Morton said. "She has deliberately taken him under her wing. I think as a grandmother she has been far more understanding than as a mother at times."
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
RELATED STORIES
Kayleigh Roberts is a freelance writer and editor with more than 10 years of professional experience. Her byline has appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, The Atlantic, Allure, Entertainment Weekly, MTV, Bustle, Refinery29, Girls’ Life Magazine, Just Jared, and Tiger Beat, among other publications. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
-
Prince Harry and King Charles' Relationship Is "Terminally Damaged" After King Declines to See His Son During U.K. Visit: Expert
It's admittedly not looking good.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Lily Allen Resented Elton John for Years, But There Are No Hard Feelings Now
This is too funny.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Hilary Duff Welcomes 3rd Child With Husband Matthew Koma
Townes is her fourth child overall.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Prince Harry and King Charles' Relationship Is "Terminally Damaged" After King Declines to See His Son During U.K. Visit: Expert
It's admittedly not looking good.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Prince Harry’s Spokesperson Confirms That King Charles Is Too Busy To See His Son While Harry Is In the U.K. This Week
“It, unfortunately, will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full program.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Matty Healy's Mom Passionately Defends Meghan Markle and 'Spare'
Go, Denise!
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Meghan Markle Said She and Prince Harry “Couldn’t Decide” Between Two Names for Prince Archie
The couple’s firstborn child and only son turns five years old today, and almost had a totally different moniker.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Prince William Is "A Bit Envious" of Prince Harry's Lifestyle, Sources Claim
The Duke of Sussex has more freedoms.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
The Jury Is Out on Whether Prince Harry and King Charles Will Connect When Harry Is In the U.K. Next Week
Sources say the King’s “busy” schedule may get in the way.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
There’s A Poignant Reason Why Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Upcoming Visit to Nigeria Will Be Especially Meaningful to Them
The couple will travel there next month, following a stop for Harry in the U.K. to mark the Invictus Games’ 10-year anniversary on May 8.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
“Extremely Disappointed” Prince Harry Might Be Forced to Miss Attending the 10-Year Celebration of the Invictus Games In Person Next Month
The event, scheduled for May 8 in London, would see Harry return to the U.K. to celebrate an organization so important to him.
By Rachel Burchfield Published