In an emotional and revealing interview, one of Prince Harry's oldest school friends has broken his silence about the complete breakdown of their once-close friendship, painting a poignant picture of how the Duke of Sussex has changed since stepping back from royal duties.
The Bond That Once Was
The former classmate, who attended Ludgrove School and Eton College with Harry, described their friendship as "genuine and unbreakable" during their formative years. "We were proper mates," he revealed, "the kind who shared everything and stood by each other through thick and thin."
The Gradual Drift Apart
According to the friend, the distancing began subtly at first, with Harry becoming increasingly absorbed in his relationship with Meghan Markle and their new life direction. "It wasn't sudden," he explained. "There was no dramatic falling out or angry words exchanged. It was more of a slow fade, where the invitations stopped coming and the responses became shorter and more distant."
The Painful Realisation
The former friend described the moment he realised their friendship was effectively over. "When I heard about his memoir 'Spare' and saw some of the interviews, I recognised the person but couldn't reconcile him with the Harry I knew. The values we'd shared, the loyalty we'd shown each other - it felt like that person was gone."
A Friendship Frozen in Time
What makes the situation particularly painful, he revealed, is that there are no current plans to reconnect. "The door isn't completely closed," he said, "but it's not something either of us is actively pursuing. We've moved in completely different directions, and sometimes friendships, no matter how strong they once were, can't survive such fundamental changes."
The Broader Pattern
This revelation comes amid numerous reports of Harry distancing himself from many of his old friends and acquaintances since relocating to California. The pattern suggests a conscious effort to build a new life separate from his previous royal connections and British social circles.
The friend's candid account provides a rare glimpse into the personal costs of Harry's life transformation, highlighting how royal relationships extend beyond family to include childhood friendships that have been casualties of his new path.
