Prince Philip, 99, would have been ‘more influential’ in challenging Prince Harry over Megxit if he’d been younger because he felt the choice was ‘damaging to the monarchy’, royal expert claims
- Prince Philip, 99, would have confronted Prince Harry, 36, if he was younger
- Expert said ‘internally’ Philip was ‘very upset’ but ‘wasn’t going to let Harry see it’
- Ingrid Seward added Duke of Edinburgh knew ‘Megxit would damage monarchy’
- Comes after she said Prince Philip had ‘walked away’ from the Sussexes
- Expert said Prince Harry’s behaviour was ‘completely alien’ to his grandfather
Prince Philip would have been ‘more influential’ in challenging Prince Harry over his decision to leave the Royal Family if he had been younger, a royal expert has claimed.
The Duke of Edinburgh, who gave up his naval career to support the Queen, 94, when she ascended the throne in 1952, was ‘internally very upset’ over Prince Harry, 36, and Meghan Markle’s, 39, decision to step back from the royal family, according to Ingrid Seward.
Speaking with Fox News, Ingrid said the 99-year-old ‘wasn’t going to let the Duke of Sussex see how upset he was’, explaining: ‘If Prince Philip would have been younger, he would have been more influential.
‘He would have told Harry, ‘”Are you sure you know what you’re doing? Do you know what you’re giving up?’
MailOnline has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.
Prince Philip, 99, would have challenged Prince Harry’s decision to leave the Royal Family if he had been younger because he felt Megxit was ‘damaging to the monarchy’, a royal expert has claimed
She continued: ‘You cannot have one foot in the palace and the other foot out. You have to make a decision and I don’t want you to regret it.”’
Meanwhile Ingrid, who has penned a new biography Prince Philip Revealed, also claimed the Duke saw the decision as ‘very damaging to the monarchy’.
Her comments come weeks after she claimed Prince Philip had ‘walked away’ from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after the ‘great shock’ of Megxit.
Speaking with Vanity Fair’s Katie Nicholl, she said Prince Philip ‘quite liked’ Meghan, 39, initially but now compares her to Wallis Simpson, who triggered the abdication crisis when she married the then-King Edward VIII in 1937.
Ingrid Seward said The Duke of Edinburgh ‘internally very upset’ over Megxit but wasn’t going to let Prince Harry see that
Meanwhile, she said Prince Philip feels ‘unable to comprehend’ why Prince Harry would want to leave The Firm, revealing: ‘His grandson’s behavior is completely alien to him, so not unnaturally the relationship has suffered.
Ingrid, said the Duke’s once close relationship with his grandson has yet to recover after he announced he and Meghan would step back in January.
She said the Duke ‘could neither understand nor relate’ to Harry’s decision to quit the Royal Family, and he was also ‘deeply upset’ by the couple’s choice.
Meanwhile Ingrid also explained that he had been ‘dismayed’ at the manner in which they’d chosen to announce their news.
It comes weeks after the royal biographer said the Duke of Edinburgh’s once close relationship with Prince Harry has not recovered after he announced his plans to quit the royal family
Although the Queen is head of state, Prince Philip is thought of as head of the family, with Ingrid suggesting the Duke was hurt his advice to the Sussexes over royal life fell on deaf ears.
Ingrid went on to reveal that the Duke’s eyesight is failing and he has become ‘very hard of hearing’ in his old age.
Yet Prince Philip has kept busy during the months of lockdown by fishing, writing letters and reading.
Ingrid said the Duke ‘could neither understand nor relate’ to Harry’s decision to quit The Firm, and compares Meghan to Wallis Simpson
Meanwhile Ingrid also said: ‘He also loves watching cooking programs. He loves Mary Berry.’
She added that the Duke continues to make ‘a massive effort’ and wants to ‘look his best’ for royal appearances, spending hours to slowly prepare.
Ingrid revealed the Prince will often get up ‘as early as necessary’ to arrive on time, adding: ‘He’s a proud man, he doesn’t want to be seen with a stick and would never consider a Zimmer frame.’