Friend Says Prince Harry is "Pretty Damn Normal, All Things Considered"
“I’ve heard a lot of fairly negative things said about him, character assassinations that bear no resemblance to the man I’ve come to count as a friend."
A close friend to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is sharing what the Duke of Sussex is really like as he prepares to turn 40.
The Daily Mail's Bryony Gordon—who has spent time with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in their home and was even gifted some of Markle's homemade jam—wrote in a column for the publication that despite his royal upbringing, immense privilege, and constant media scrutiny, Prince Harry is "normal."
"Eight years ago I became friends with Prince Harry, and ever since life has been peppered with questions from people curious to know more about his character: has he been brainwashed, is he intent on bringing down the monarchy, does he smell of money, and so on and so forth," Gordon explained.
"And when I tell them my honest opinion—that he is kind, funny and pretty damn normal, all things considered—I often see a flash of disappointment cloud their faces, followed quickly by words to the effect of ‘well you would say that, you know him,' as if knowing someone should disqualify you from having a trusted opinion about them."
Gordon went on to add that she decided to "write this column about what I know of Prince Harry" because of all the negative things she has heard about him in the press and online.
"I’ve heard a lot of fairly negative things said about him, character assassinations that bear no resemblance to the man I’ve come to count as a friend, the one who cares passionately about injured veterans, and who’s done more than most to change perceptions of mental health in this country," Gordon wrote.
"There are no airs or graces with them, no desire to do anything other than protect their children from an increasingly digital world that likes nothing more than seeing the worst in people," she continued. "A world that forgets that no matter how high profile a person is, they’re just doing their best, like everyone else. This is not what people want to hear, but it is what I’ve found, time and time again."
Stay In The Know
Select the newsletters you’d like to receive. Then, add your email to sign up.
In a recent statement to the BBC, the Duke of Sussex opened up about his upcoming birthday and how it compares to monumental birthdays of the past.
"I was anxious about 30, I’m excited about 40," he said at the time. "Whatever the age, my mission is to continue showing up and doing good in the world.
"Becoming a father of two incredibly kind and funny kids has given me a fresh perspective on life, as well as sharpening my focus in all my work," he added, before calling fatherhood "one of life’s greatest joys."
Danielle Campoamor is Marie Claire's weekend editor covering all things news, celebrity, politics, culture, live events, and more. In addition, she is an award-winning freelance writer and former NBC journalist with over a decade of digital media experience covering mental health, reproductive justice, abortion access, maternal mortality, gun violence, climate change, politics, celebrity news, culture, online trends, wellness, gender-based violence and other feminist issues. You can find her work in The New York Times, Washington Post, TIME, New York Magazine, CNN, MSNBC, NBC, TODAY, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, InStyle, Playboy, Teen Vogue, Glamour, The Daily Beast, Mother Jones, Prism, Newsweek, Slate, HuffPost and more. She currently lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and their two feral sons. When she is not writing, editing or doom scrolling she enjoys reading, cooking, debating current events and politics, traveling to Seattle to see her dear friends and losing Pokémon battles against her ruthless offspring. You can find her on X, Instagram, Threads, Facebook and all the places.
-
King Charles Will Travel With Two Doctors During His First Royal Tour Since Cancer Diagnosis
The physicians will join the royal entourage after news broke that the monarch decided to “pause” cancer treatments while abroad.
By Danielle Campoamor Published
-
Blake Lively Debuts Sheer Dress During Double Date With Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce
The actress ushered in fall during a Friday night out with the pop star and Kansas City Chiefs tight end.
By Danielle Campoamor Published
-
Dua Lipa's Favorite $100 Sneakers Are Back in Fall's Trendiest Color
Gracie Abrams is also a fan.
By Julia Marzovilla Published