Cressida Bonas reportedly ended things with Prince Harry after watching coverage of Prince William and Kate Middleton's 2014 Australian tour with their oldest son, Prince William. The actress didn't want the attention that came with being royal.
Cressida Bonas reportedly ended things with Prince Harry after watching coverage of Prince William and Kate Middleton's 2014 Australian tour with their oldest son, Prince William. The actress didn't want the attention that came with being royal.
Being a member of the royal family isn't either, and neither is dating one. Many a "commoner" have fled royal romances thanks to the pressure, criticism, and round-the-clock scrutiny that comes with being even royal adjacent. Case-in-point: Cressida Bonas, who reportedly dumped Prince Harry for exactly this reason.
According to The Sun, Cressida was "spooked" out of the two-years relationship after seeing coverage of Prince William and Kate Middleton's first royal tour with their oldest son, Prince George. Will and Kate's 2014 tour of New Zealand and Australia was a "wake up call" for the actress according to royal biographer Katie Nicholl, author of Harry: Life, Loss, and Love. She wrote:
"Cressida had been 'completely spooked' while watching TV coverage of William, Kate and George touring New Zealand and Australia that spring. There was no way she wanted that sort of attention and she told Harry so."
Harry, by all reports, was head over heels for Cressida and tried to convince her to stay with him, but "her mind was made up."
According to Nicholl:
"Harry suffered a real blow when she said, ‘I can’t do this.' I think she really broke his heart. Twice [Harry] had been left heartbroken because the women he had fallen in love with didn’t want to share the life he had been born into."
The other woman who left Harry after deciding that the royal life wasn't for her was, of course, Chelsy Davy, his first love. In both women's defense, Harry's married life has certainly been the subject of intense interest and scrutiny—so they clearly made the right call for the kinds of lives they wanted to lead.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
RELATED STORIES
Kayleigh Roberts is a freelance writer and editor with more than 10 years of professional experience. Her byline has appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, The Atlantic, Allure, Entertainment Weekly, MTV, Bustle, Refinery29, Girls’ Life Magazine, Just Jared, and Tiger Beat, among other publications. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
-
Marie Claire's Power Play
By Marie Claire Editors Published
-
When Are the Next Episodes of 'Physical: 100' Season 2 Releasing?
The finale (and a new winner) is near.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
Beyoncé Spends 'Cowboy Carter' Eve Without a Cowboy Hat
She cozied up with a luxurious faux fur coat instead.
By Lauren Tappan Published
-
British Royal Lady Gabriella Windsor's Husband Has Died at 45
Lady Gabriella is King Charles' second cousin.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
George, Charlotte and Louis Will Be Laden With Gifts as Prince William Returns From New York
He was handed so many souvenirs for the little ones.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Prince William Makes Sure to "Treat George and Charlotte as Equals," Body Language Expert Says
I should hope so!
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Prince William Isn't "A Workaholic Like His Father," Royal Expert Claims
He's got more of a work-life balance.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Super Rare Photos of Queen Elizabeth as a Young Woman
From childhood snapshots to portraits as a young princess, beautiful and rare photos of the late Queen Elizabeth as a young woman.
By Mehera Bonner Published
-
King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla's Relationship: A Timeline
With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, Charles has ascended to the throne as king.
By The Editors Published
-
Who Is Next in Line for the British Throne, Explained
And yes—Harry and Archie are still in the line of succession.
By Andrea Park Published
-
Meghan Markle Made a Low-Key First Appearance at the Queen's Jubilee
She was photographed quietly entertaining some of the royal children.
By The Editors Published