This moniker reportedly reflects the Duke of Sussex’s new California lifestyle with his wife.

Prince Harry has been nicknamed “Harry the Hippy” by a group of his former friends who reportedly aren’t fans of his wife, Meghan Markle. The Duke of Sussex, who boasted a large group of pals gathered from his school and army days, assumptively no longer speaks to many of them. A royal expert believes Harry’s marriage to Meghan ended these critical relationships which sustained the duke prior.

Prince Harry’s new nickname reportedly reflects his California life with Meghan Markle

Royal author and expert Tom Quinn spoke to The Mirror, sharing his point of view about Prince Harry’s relationships with many of his longtime friends. Has he maintained the same level of closeness with that group of pals since marrying Meghan Markle in 2018?

“Harry is increasingly bored and looking back across the Atlantic where most of his army and school friends still live and whom he never sees. Because they won’t visit him in the States because they find Meghan difficult,” Quinn explained.

He alleged that many of Harry’s old friends “don’t like Meghan.” They claim her influence over the duke has transformed him into “Harry the Hippy.” This nickname refers to Meghan’s laid-back California vibe.

Quinn claims that Prince Harry’s military pals believe he has changed so much that he has “nothing in common” with them. He also says that those friends, in particular, feel “betrayed” by Harry’s words in his bestselling memoir Spare.

In the book, Prince Harry discusses how many lives he has taken in combat. However, to The Guardian, retired army veteran Col. Tim Collins rebuked Harry’s statement, saying in the military, “We don’t do notches on the rifle butt.”

Prince Harry was absent from a critical event celebrating one of his oldest friends

Prince William was a groomsman at Hugh Grosvenor's wedding.Prince William was a groomsman at Hugh Grosvenor’s wedding | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

In June 2024, The Duke of Westminster, Hugh Grosvenor, married Olivia Henson at Chester Cathedral. Prince Harry did not attend the event.

Harry’s absence was shocking for royal watchers, who understood Grosvenor’s significance in Harry’s life. He was so important to the duke that his longtime pal was a godfather to Harry and Meghan Markle’s son, Archie.

Instead of Harry taking an essential role in the event, Grosvenor enlisted Harry’s estranged brother, Prince William, as a groomsman. William was the only royal who attended the event.

Also absent from the event were King Charles (Grosvenor’s godfather), Queen Camilla, and Kate Middleton. Grosvenor reportedly believed any royal reunion between the two estranged brothers could have distracted from his and Henson’s big day.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle won’t be returning to the U.K. any time soon<

Prince Harry has returned to his homeland several times since leaving the United Kingdom in 2020 with Meghan Markle. The couple settled in California, Meghan’s home state, after agreeing to leave their senior royal roles.

However, when Harry has visited England, he has been alone. He attended King Charles’ coronation solo and the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games alone. He also visited his father alone upon learning the monarch had been diagnosed with cancer.

Meghan Markle has only returned to the U.K. for one significant event: Queen Elizabeth’s death. She and Harry paid their respects to the late monarch together alongside other royal family members.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reside in Montecito, California. They are parents to Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.