Before his well-documented estrangement from the Royal family, Prince Harry cherished his role as an uncle to Prince William and Kate Middleton’s three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Since George’s birth in July 2013, followed by Charlotte in 2015 and Louis in 2018, Harry was deeply involved and emotionally connected to his nephews and niece.
In his memoir Spare, Harry recalls his excitement when George was born: “I was an uncle. Willy and Kate had welcomed their first child, George, and he was beautiful. I couldn’t wait to teach him about rugby and Rorke’s Drift, flying and corridor cricket—and maybe give him a few pointers about how to survive life in the fishbowl.”
Harry’s affection extended equally to Charlotte and Louis. For Prince Louis’s christening, he gifted the youngest Wales child a precious first edition of A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh, reportedly valued at £8,000, according to The Sun. This thoughtful present was inspired by Harry’s cherished childhood memories of his mother reading him bedtime stories, instilling a love for classic tales.
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An insider revealed, “One of Harry’s happiest childhood memories was being read a bedtime story by his mother. She loved all the old classics, and Harry had the brilliant idea of starting a little library of first editions for Louis, Charlotte, and George to enjoy as they grow.”
Harry also expressed his wishes for the children’s futures beyond the palace walls. Prior to Louis’s birth, he told the Mirror of his hopes that Prince George and Princess Charlotte might follow in his footsteps by joining the Armed Forces. “I would definitely encourage George, and Charlotte if she wants to, to have some sort of involvement in the Armed Forces, guaranteed. It’s done no harm, just good, for me, and I know it’s the same for William," he remarked.
Offering wisdom on handling royal life’s pressures, Harry said, “As an uncle, you know, I would say enjoy the [royal] role, because at first it’s just pressure, pressure, pressure. If you’re going to be doing it and you’re having an effect on so many people then, if you smile, they’re smiling – and what’s the point of doing such a unique job without enjoying it?”
Now a father himself, Harry and Meghan Markle welcomed Archie in 2019 and Lilibet in 2021, settling in Montecito, California. However, their ties with the Royal family have dwindled over recent years, particularly following a series of allegations and public disputes. Reports indicate that Harry and Meghan have become largely estranged, especially from Prince William, and have been effectively ‘cut off’ by prominent Royal figures.
Archie and Lilibet have not visited the UK since 2022, with Lilibet having met King Charles only once. Royal commentator Jennie Bond highlighted the complex reality this poses: “At the moment, the children don’t know any difference, but as they grow up Harry and Meghan will have some delicate manoeuvring to negotiate to explain the situation. It must be something that troubles Harry as a dad.”
Bond added, “Imagine Archie, aged 15, telling his friends, ‘My grandpa is/was King! And my uncle is/will be King too,’ but he hardly knew or met them. How sad… and Meghan would have to bear the brunt of the responsibility for that.”