Prince Philip's 'harsh warning' to Prince Harry after giving him military title before exit from duties
Philip's warning was tough, it's claimedPrince Philip reportedly once had a blunt warning for Prince Harry after handing the duke a military title before his exit from working royal life.
This year marks the sixth anniversary of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s shock decision to no longer be working royals.
They announced their decision to step back on January 8, 2020.
Prince Philip’s ‘harsh warning’ to Prince Harry over military title
Back in 2017, Prince Harry received a royal title from his grandfather, Prince Philip, that the late Duke of Edinburgh had held since the 1950s.
Prince Philip received the title Captain General of the Royal Marines in 1953, succeeding his late father-in-law, King George VI.
64 years later, in 2017, Prince Philip passed the title on to Prince Harry upon his retirement, and he had some choice words for his grandson.
At the handover, the prince allegedly bluntly told Harry: “Don’t [bleep] it up.”
However, just three years later, Harry gave the title away…
Harry loses the title after Prince Philip warning
In 2020, Harry and Meghan made the momentous decision to step back as working royals.
In a summit held at Sandringham and reportedly attended by Harry, Prince William, the late Queen Elizabeth II, and Harry’s father, Charles, the royals apparently discussed the Sussexes’ decision and vetoed the possibility of the couple being part-time royals.
Though the queen reportedly felt sympathy for Harry, she ruled that the monarchy could not function with “part-time royals” and that there was a “need for unity and dignity”.
It was decided that Harry would give up working royal life.
Since stepping away from duties, Harry and Meghan no longer use their HRH styling. In early 2021, Harry also gave up his position as Captain General Royal Marines and hand back all the other honorary military appointments.
Since October 2022, King Charles has been Captain General.
Philip saw Harry’s royal exit as a ‘threat’ to royal family’s ‘cohesion’
Prince Philip was reportedly very unhappy with Harry and Meghan’s decision to leave the royal fold.
So much so that he allegedly decided to keep his distance from his grandson, viewing the duke’s decision as a “threat to family cohesion”.
Speaking to Vanity Fair some months later, royal expert Ingrid Seward claimed Philip was “unable to comprehend” why his grandson had made the decision to leave life as a working royal.
“His grandson’s behaviour is completely alien to him, so not unnaturally the relationship has suffered,” she claimed.
Meanwhile, a source told The Sun that much of Philip’s anger stemmed “from seeing Her Majesty upset”.
In fact, Philip was so incensed by his grandson’s decision that he avoided the Sandringham summit altogether.
Seward, speaking to Sky News, said in 2020: “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.
“He simply doesn’t want to get involved anymore.”
Royal Insider has contacted Buckingham Palace and Prince Harry’s representatives for comment.
Read more: Reason Prince Harry has ‘no plans’ to meet with King Charles during new UK visit in weeks
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