Prince Harry is said to be “lonelier than ever” and has become Meghan Markle’s “spare”, after reportedly hearing about the King’s cancer battle through news reports.
The Duke of Sussex now reportedly rarely leaves his mansion in Montecito, California, nearly five years after he and Meghan left the UK for the US.
A source also told The Sun that Harry found out about his father’s diagnosis at the same time as the public, adding that he has had minimal contact with the King in recent months.
This week Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho stepped down as patrons of their charity Sentebale after ‘unthinkable’ boardroom infighting.
Read also: What does Prince Harry do all day?
Prince Harry is also estranged from his brother William and celebrated his 40th birthday last year without any members of the Firm by his side.
For royal insiders, it shows a fall from grace with Harry having once been regularly voted as the most popular member of the family.
But while he has backed away from a charity close to his heart, Meghan has this week announced a new podcast and launched her latest series on Netflix. The Duchess of Sussex announced the title, Confessions of a Female Founder, in a new trailer and revealed the release date, April 8.
A source told the Sun: “First he was a spare to William, now he's increasingly looking like a spare to Meghan — and it's not a great look.
“He misses his family terribly, but no one is speaking to him any more.
“He just wants to go for a beer with the guys, but his only friends are just the husbands of Meghan's friends.”
The prince flew back to the UK last February after learning of his father’s diagnosis - but they only spent a reported 30 minutes together. Harry’s gesture is said to have “touched” Charles.
A second UK visit, last May, saw Harry look to promote his Invictus Games but his full schedule did not allow chance to see his dad.
