Prince Harry’s sharp criticisms of his scandal-ridden uncle are resurfacing as Prince Andrew remains embroiled in controversy.
The arrival of Meghan into the Royal Family after tying the knot with Harry initially sparked excitement, with the Sussexes, alongside Prince William and Princess Kate, quickly dubbed the ‘Fab Four.’ However, beneath the surface, things were not as idyllic as they appeared. While Harry and Meghan appeared polished during official engagements, privately they were grappling with challenges. Meghan later disclosed her struggles with mental health issues and suicidal thoughts.
Tensions escalated with other senior royals, with Harry acknowledging that he and his brother were heading in different directions before their decision to step back from full-time royal duties, causing a national uproar. The late Queen and her advisors deemed there could be no middle ground for the couple, resulting in the swift removal of several royal privileges, including police security. This contrasted starkly with Prince Andrew, who is once again facing scrutiny for his involvement in various scandals.
In his memoir, Harry revealed that he and Meghan faced a similar level of security threat as the late Queen, making the removal of their taxpayer-funded security in 2020 a shock. Stranded in Canada with their son Archie amid the COVID-19 pandemic and public exposure of their location, the couple felt vulnerable until Hollywood tycoon Tyler Perry offered them refuge in his mansion with his private security team.
Harry’s assurance to Meghan about their security stemmed partly from the treatment of his disgraced uncle, Prince Andrew. Andrew recently announced his voluntary relinquishment of his duke title and royal honors after discussions with King Charles, although he had distanced himself from royal duties in the wake of allegations of sexual misconduct and his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Despite being embroiled in scandal, Andrew retained police security until 2022, with the late Queen continuing to cover his private security expenses. King Charles followed suit for a period before reportedly halting funding in 2024 to encourage Andrew to vacate Royal Lodge.
