Prince Harry is 'no longer a royal' in the Firm’s eyes as he marks Queen anniversary alone

The Duke of Sussex is unlikely to be reunited with his family this Sunday to mark two years since the death of his grandmother.

By Jasmine Carey, Royal Reporter

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A former butler said Prince Harry's rift with the royals is "irreparable" (Image: Getty)

Prince Harry will be marking the  second anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death alone this Sunday as he is no longer considered “a royal”, a close confidante of the late Princess Diana has said.

Paul Burrell, who was a royal butler for a number of years, said in an interview last year that the Duke of Sussex is unlikely to be welcome at any private events to mark the late Queen’s death as a result of his rift with the family.

In a 2023 interview with Slingo, he said the royal rift has “grown so wide now” that it’s “irreparable”.

Burrell said at the time: “Why would they want to embrace him on a day which is very close to their hearts?

“I don't think he will [be invited to private commemorations]. I think the Royal Family have pulled the drawbridge up and they are combining forces now and sticking together because they’re hurt, they feel hurt by his comments in many different outlets now."

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The former butler said: “This goes on for quite a few years before the Queen's death and I think they feel it's unforgivable what he's done and said, and so why would they want to embrace him on a day which is very close to their hearts.”

Burrell, who worked with both Princess Diana and Charles, also said that Harry has hurt his family by revealing personal secrets in bombshell interviews and his memoir Spare.

He said: “Harry is no longer invited to family functions. He’s no longer invited into their fold. Now he's no longer royal in their eyes.

“He's a celebrity. He's hurt them: he’s hurt his father, his brother, sister-in-law, his stepmother. I mean, really, he’s been quite ruthless in hurting so many people.”


The butler also accused Harry of upsetting people in recent years, including those who were there for him at the time of Princess Diana's death.

He told Slingo: "All the people that were there in Diana's world, he's managed to take a swipe at, other than the Spencers. They seem to have escaped his wrath.

“But the people who were certainly there at the time, including myself, have suffered barbed comments and quite frankly, he upset his grandmother towards the end of her life, brought worries to her door which she didn't understand.

“That rift has grown so wide now. I don't think it can be bridged. I think it's irreparable.

“I think the only person that could have mended it would have been Diana and she's not here.”


Prince Harry and Royal Family at Queen Elizabeth's funeral

The family will mark the second anniversary privately without Harry (Image: Victoria Jones - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The Royal Family have not announced any public appearances on the anniversary of the late Queen’s death and are likely to mark the day privately in reflection and prayer.

This comes after Prince William and Princess Kate laid flowers in South Wales on the first anniversary of the late Queen’s death.

The couple had a moment of silence in front of a picture of the late Queen before greeting crowds outside the church and carrying out official engagements.

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