To some of the outside world, Prince Harry seemed to change almost overnight. He went from being one of the most popular, charming, and fun-loving royals to a man who barely smiles anymore and left his royal duties before making money by bashing his family publicly. Because of that drastic change and how it occurred after he met and married Meghan Markle, she gets the blame for the way Harry acts now with some even claiming that she “brainwashed” him.

Now, someone who knows the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and considers them friends is speaking out about that particular claim and others even though “it’s not what people want to hear.”

Prince Harry’s friend admits they’ve been asked if he’s been ‘brainwashed’ by his wife

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on the Mall during Trooping The Colour | Chris Jackson/Getty Images

British journalist Bryony Gordon has known Prince Harry since 2016 when he, Prince William, and the Princess of Wales (formerly known as Kate Middleton) launched the Heads Together campaign to combat the stigma around mental health. Gordon says she has spoken with and seen the duke on several occasions since then and even considers him and Meghan friends.

In a column for the Daily Mail, she decided to address some of the things she has heard and been asked about regarding the prince and his relationship with Meghan.

According to Gordon, “Eight years ago, I became friends with Prince Harry and ever since life has been peppered with questions from people curious to know more about his character: Has he been brainwashed, is he intent on bringing down the monarchy, does he smell of money, and so on and so forth.”

The journalist explained: “I’ve heard a lot of fairly negative things said about him, character assassinations that bear no resemblance to the man I’ve come to count as a friend. The one who cares passionately about injured veterans and who’s done more than most to change perceptions of mental health in this country.”

The Sussexes’ pal also touched on how Harry and Meghan act behind closed door

Gordon also wanted to put out there how she’s seen Harry and Meghan acting when they’re not out in public.

“I spent an afternoon at the house, the kids running around happily as we drank tea. Harry proudly showed me the DIY photo wall he’d recently ­created, featuring pictures of his mum,” Gordon recalled. “When I left … I was reminded of the fact that they are a pretty ­ordinary ­couple existing in an absolutely ­extraordinary situation.

“There are no airs or graces with them, no desire to do anything other than protect their children from an increasingly digital world that likes nothing more than seeing the worst in people. A world that forgets that no ­matter how high profile a person is, they’re just doing their best, like everyone else.”

Gordon concluded: “This is not what people want to hear, but it is what I’ve found time and time again.”