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Prince Harry’s decision to step down as a senior royal and move to America with Meghan Markle in 2020 didn’t just shock the public—it reportedly alienated some of his longtime friends.
According to royal author Tom Quinn in his book Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants, some of Harry’s closest pals believe Markle was the driving force behind his ideological shift. One of his friends allegedly told Quinn, “I can’t understand what Harry sees in her. She’s a tree hugger. She’s so woke.”
Quinn explains that Harry’s aristocratic circle values tradition and sees progressive views as a stark departure from their world. Markle, with her “alternative” worldview, reportedly introduced Harry to a lifestyle that clashed with his upbringing—something that didn’t sit well with his friends.
One moment that highlighted this divide occurred during a pheasant shoot at Sandringham, the royal family’s country estate. Markle, unaccustomed to the aristocratic pastime, was allegedly uncomfortable with the humor and remarks of Harry’s old friends, particularly their disdain for environmentalists and progressive ideals.
Over time, Harry’s values reportedly shifted to align more with Meghan’s perspective. Quinn suggests this change deepened the divide between him and his old friends, who felt he had turned his back on their way of life.
“He became much more sympathetic, as she is, about wanting to do good in the world,” Quinn said. “I think Meghan really took him away from that [old] world, and they didn’t like that.”
This latest revelation adds another layer to the ongoing narrative of how Harry and Meghan’s departure from royal life reshaped not just their roles but also their relationships.