How Prince Harry and Meghan Markle paved the way for ‘unhappy’ royals Autumn and Peter Phillips’

An expert has revealed how Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s escape to Canada may have made it easier for Autumn and Peter Phillips to reassess their own situation. 

Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, announced last month that they would be stepping down as senior royals and splitting their time between Windsor Castle and Canada.

And just weeks after their announcement, the Queen’s eldest grandson Peter, 42, and his wife, 41, confirmed their separation after 12 years of marriage earlier this week.

Now, Dr. Becky Spelman, psychologist and clinical director of the Private Therapy Clinic has explained how family crises often come in multiples, as one incident can trigger other members of the family to look at their own circumstances, and take action to change it.

Speaking to Femail, Dr. Becky said: ‘The latest upset to hit the British Royal Family has been the announcement that Her Majesty’s grandson, Peter Phillips, and his wife, Autumn Kelly, are about to separating. 

‘Is it just a coincidence that this announcement comes so soon after Harry and Meghan’s decision to distance themselves from royal duties and move to Canada? Maybe, but maybe not.

‘Harry and Meghan’s decision was certainly a big one, and must have been very upsetting for some of their family members—but it has also opened up the opportunity for others to assess their own lives and situations, and to take radical steps to change what is not working out for them.

‘It may feel to Harry’s relatives as though his decision has essentially given them permission to put the brakes on when the royal life is not working out for them. 

Just weeks after their announcement, the Queen’s eldest grandson Peter, 42, and his wife, 41, confirmed their separation after 12 years of marriage earlier this week (seen last June).  Dr. Becky Spelman, psychologist and clinical director of the Private Therapy Clinic has explained how family crises often come in multiples, as one incident can trigger other members of the family to look at their own circumstances, and take action to change it

‘While Peter and Autumn’s marriage problems surely started long before Harry and Meghan’s announcement, they may have been holding back on making them public because they did not want to distress the older members of their family, or to draw unwelcome attention to an extended family that already has to deal with more than enough. 

‘Now that Harry and Meghan have made the huge decision to essentially leave the royal inner circle, it may feel to their relatives that all bets are off, and that what used not to be OK now is.’

Dr. Becky Spelman, psychologist and clinical director of the Private Therapy Clinic has explained how family crises often come in multiples

She explained: ‘Families are not just a random collection of individuals who happen to share some DNA, but closely interlocking behavioural systems that often function as a unit. 

‘In this context, we can understand any member of a family as one element in a system. 

‘Therefore, anything that happens to a single member can have a considerable impact on the rest of the family, and often one or more people changes their behaviour and interactions with the others in response to the change that has taken place. 

‘We see this happen all the time whenever something occurs in a family—divorce, bereavement, and so forth can have a domino effect, impacting throughout the family.

‘At some point, most families will experience discord, and some will experience marriage breakdown. At these difficult times, what they need most is time and space to heal and to build a new normal that is respectful of everyone’s needs. Hopefully the Royal Family will be given this.’

Relationship expert Lee Wilson added: ‘Prince Harry and Meghan are caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place in that while Harry’s relationship with his family is important, the two have likely come to the realization that in order for their relationship to endure forever, they both must put the other first.

‘While it would be ideal for both the Prince and Meghan to maintain and cultivate a close and warm connection with the Queen and others in his family of origin, both Harry and Meghan must be prepared to make the incredibly difficult decision to choose each other over any other relationship if it came to that.

‘Hopefully, the recent exit from certain aspects of the Prince’s family will still allow the possibility of love and connection with them. It could be that the couple needs time to develop and nourish their own identity before it would be best for them to consider or attempt a full reunion with the royal family.’

It was reported earlier this week that Peter and Autumn informed their families of their ‘amicable’ decision to divorce ‘at the end of last year’ after deciding it was ‘the best course of action for their two children and ongoing friendship’.

The statement, released by a spokesperson on behalf of the couple on Monday, revealed the former couple have both remained in Gloucestershire to co-parent daughters Savannah, nine, and Isla, seven.

Meanwhile the rest of the royal family are said to be ‘sad but supportive’ as the couple ‘consciously uncouple’ (pictured with Prince Charles and the Queen at the Braemar Games in September) 

Issued earlier this week by Gerard Franklin, their official spokesperson, reads: ‘After informing HM The Queen and members of both families last year, Peter and Autumn jointly agreed to separate.

‘They had reached the conclusion that this was the best course of action for their two children and ongoing friendship. The decision to divorce and share custody came about after many months of discussions and although sad, is an amicable one.

‘The couple’s first priority will remain the continued well being and upbringing of their wonderful daughters Savannah and Isla.

‘Both families were naturally sad at the announcement, but fully supportive of Peter and Autumn in the joint decision to co-parent their children.

‘Both Peter and Autumn have remained in Gloucestershire to bring up their two children where they have been settled for a number of years. Peter and Autumn have requested privacy and compassion for their children while the family continues to adapt to these changes.’

The couple, who announced earlier this week they have separated, are said to have been in discussions about their marriage ‘for some time’ (pictured together in June 2019)