Princess Diana would’ve ‘loved Harry’s life free of royal shackles’ but not William ‘rift’

As Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle continue to enjoy life away from the royal family in the US, one expert has weighed in on what his late mother Princess Diana would’ve thought about the move and what she would’ve changed.

Princess Diana would have approved of Harry’s US move, claims one royal expert, but she wouldn’t have supported his ‘rift’ with brother William (
Image: Getty)

Ever since Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex made the decision to step back from royal life in 2020 and move to the US, the couple have found their choice under constant scrutiny by the general public. Yet despite criticism, the couple, who have now settled in Montecito, California with their two young children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are content.

However, a leading Royal expert believes Prince Harry may have another reason to be pleased with his choice – it’s all linked to his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. “I think Diana would have supported Harry in his move, although I think she would also have found a way to bridge the rift between the brothers,” veteran former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond told OK!

Those who knew Diana best often suggest that if she were still alive today, she would be dividing her time between the UK and the US, using her significant public profile to back her charities and raise awareness. Following Harry and Meghan’s successful ‘semi-royal’ tour to Colombia to discuss protecting children from internet dangers, Jennie explains why the public would already be accustomed to this type of visit if the late Royal was still with us.

Jennie explains why Prince Harry may feel he is living out his late mother’s dream ( 
Image:
Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)

“She would certainly have approved of Harry’s efforts to shine a light on mental health issues and also his Invictus Games success,” Jennie says. “I think she would have been proud of her boy for standing up for what he felt he wanted in life: freedom and autonomy.”

“So I think there is some reason to say that Harry might feel he is living the life his mother would have loved… free of royal shackles but still a global celebrity able to bring a great deal of publicity to causes about which he cares deeply.”

It’s often speculated that if Diana were still alive today, she would be splitting her time between the UK and the US.

In 2020, Diana’s trusted Butler, Paul Burrell revealed to CBS News: “I remember she set out in her sitting room, the plans of a home in Malibu, California, the former home of Julie Andrews, and she said to me ‘I’m buying this house and buying this house to give William and Harry a new perspective on life’.”

Sarah, Duchess of York also felt as if the late royal would be splitting her time between the UK and US ( 
Image:
X/SarahTheDuchess)
The property was a Tuscan-style villa nestled within a five-acre estate in the Paradise Cove area of Malibu, purchased by Dodi for $7.5m in June 1997. According to Paul, Diana was drawn to the lack of class system or establishment in the US, telling him “nobody’s judgemental here in America”.

This fascination with potential life in the US was also shared by the late royal’s close friend, Sarah, Duchess of York.

Speaking to The Sun, Sarah said: “I think first and foremost she’d be hugging her grandchildren and so proud of both her sons and their wives. She’d be travelling between Santa Barbara and Kensington Palace. She would also be championing her causes when it came to children’s charities.”