Former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond tells OK! that Meghan encouraging Harry to leave the past behind and ‘move on’ is a healthy move as he approaches his 40th birthday.

As Prince Harry approaches his 40th birthday, it’s been claimed that the Duke ‘spends most of his time thinking of the past’ reportedly pining for the love and affection he had from the British public before stepping back from Royal duties, according to one of his oldest friends.

“He’s an angry boy. Things haven’t turned out how he wanted, the confidant told The Times. “I think he misses being over here [in Britain] desperately and wants to be admired more. Anyone who knows him feels he’d rather be top of the pops here with everyone loving him, as they do with William and Kate.”

Harry formally confirmed he was a US resident earlier this year (Image: Getty Images)

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond gives her insight, and explains how this could be ‘frustrating’ for Meghan.

“If Meghan is encouraging Harry to leave the past behind and move on, then I think it is a healthy move. They have made their decision, left the working royal family and left the UK,” she exclusively told OK!

Harry and Meghan left the family and stepped back from royal duties in 2020, to start their new life overseas, where they welcomed their second child, Princess Lilibet. Earlier this year, the Duke formally confirmed he was a US resident.

“He says he now regards the USA as home — at least for the time being,” Jennie continues. “Brooding on the perceived injustices of the past and re-living old quarrels is a waste of a life, and I think Meghan sees that.”

Harry and Meghan stepped down from royal duties less than two years after tying the knot (Image: Getty Images)

However, Jennie says it’s ‘easier’ for Meghan to look forward, without the history with the royal family: “On the other hand, she doesn’t have an entire and complex history of life in the confines of the royal family to worry about. It’s easy for her to look forward…ensconced as she is in a country and lifestyle she is so used to and clearly loves. But Harry has said he wants to be reunited with his family…so he is obviously going to think about what has happened and how they have come to this state of affairs,” she continued, although she said this could be ‘frustrating’ for Meghan.

“And that’s probably quite frustrating for Meghan…who seems to be at ease with estrangement from her own family. I don’t think Harry spends ‘all’ his time looking back….but the Harry I knew as a young boy was someone who enjoyed fooling around with his family and having fun with them.”

Although Harry made some ‘bombshell revelations’ in his memoir Spare, he also reminisced over fond family memories, as Jennie says it’s ‘only natural’ he misses the connection.

“In his book Spare he writes about his fond memories of some of those family gatherings….and it’s only natural that he now misses that connection and perhaps is still considering ways of repairing the damage done in recent years. Meghan, however, has I think consigned her brief dalliance at being royal very firmly to the past…except for the title and the kudos it brings,” Jennie concluded.