This insight comes from a royal author and historian, Dr. Tessa Dunlop, who suggests that Prince Harry may not have fully grasped the challenging journey he embarked upon when he decided to step back as a working member of the Royal Family and share his story. Dr. Dunlop, the author of the 2022 book "Elizabeth and Philip," points out that Harry now finds himself in a position where he may be less than what he once took for granted as a member of the royal family.
During an interview with royal analyst Kinsey Scofield on The Tadifa Daily podcast, Dr. Dunlop shared her perspective, stating, "I think it's been an incredibly difficult journey. I don't think Harry has many assets, and oddly enough, I don't think he had the intellectual prowess and grounding in history to understand just what he was trying to achieve. He needed to move much more slowly, but I completely understand why the impulsive boy, the adversarial sibling, and the battered man wanted to put it out there quickly and get some easy, albeit quite challenging but profitable, hits under his belt. And I doubt he could have foreseen the problems."
Dr. Dunlop believes that Prince Harry is now grappling with the reality of what it means to be outside the royal firm. It has been over three years since the couple announced their decision not to return to their royal roles and relocated to Los Angeles with their son, Prince Archie. Being a member of the royal family comes with certain advantages that make you more significant than the sum of your individual parts. Therefore, Harry, outside of the royal sphere, may be realizing that he is now less than the sum of his parts compared to his previous status within the institution.
This realization, Dr. Dunlop notes, is likely a painful one for Harry, who was born into the royal family. She expresses compassion for him and acknowledges that taking something for granted when you've always had it can lead to a profound shift in perspective.
Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, withdrew from their royal duties in 2021, just over a year after initially expressing their intent to redefine their roles within the royal family. In a candid interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, the couple made several allegations, with Harry stating that he felt trapped within the royal system, much like the rest of his family.
In their six-part Netflix documentary series "Harry and Meghan," released the following year, they delved into their early relationship, behind-the-scenes royal life, and their struggles with the constant media scrutiny. Meghan also openly discussed her miscarriage and experiences with suicidal thoughts. Additionally, Prince Harry released his explosive memoir, revealing several revelations, including allegations of physical altercation with his elder brother.
