Prince Harry would be ‘completely left out’ by royal family growing up

Prince Harry would be ‘completely left out’ by royal family members growing up, as they made clear he was ‘number two’ to Prince William, according to one royal reporter.  

Ingrid Seward, editor of Majesty magazine, revealed the anecdote on Channel 4’s  documentary Meghan and Harry: The Baby Years, which airs tonight on More4 at 10.15pm. 

She suggested that while Princess Diana was ‘very anxious’ that Prince Harry didn’t feel like he was second best, other members of the royal family were quite clear about it. 

Ingrid recalled: ‘The Queen Mother used to say, “Come on William come and sit next to me”, and little Harry would be completely left out.’

Ingrid suggested that while Princess Diana was anxious her son never felt second best, royals including the Queen Mother gave his brother preferential treatment. Pictured: Diana with Harry and the Queen Mother at Trooping The Colour 

The royal reporter suggested that Princess Diana desperately tried to make sure Harry didn’t feel he was second best. 

She suggested: ‘Harry has always known he was number two.  And obviously Diana was very anxious that he shouldn’t feel that.’

However, she wasn’t able to completely shield her son from the fact that his older brother took precedence as heir to the throne.  

Ingrid added: ‘Other members of the royal family were very conscious he was number two.’

Ingrid suggested that the Queen Mother used to ask Prince William to sit with her, while ‘little Harry would be completely left out’ (pictured together in 2001 with Prince Charles) 

While Harry is currently sixth in line to the throne, while Prince William is third in line after The Queen and Prince Charles. 

While the brothers have always enjoyed a close relationship, it’s believed they have experienced some difficulties, with rumours of a feud between their two households emerging earlier this year.  

Harry was reportedly upset with William for questioning whether Meghan was a suitable choice as a royal bride, and felt that both his brother and Kate hadn’t made enough effort to be welcoming to Meghan.  

Princess Diana is said to have been ‘ very anxious’ that Prince Harry did not feel second best to his older brother and heir to the throne Prince William 

There were rumours earlier this year that the Sussex and Cambridge households were embroiled in a row of ‘oneupmanship’ 

During the early days of her engagement to Harry, it looked like the two couples would work together as a ‘fab foursome’ on their joint Royal Foundation venture, but it lasted just 16 months. 

In June, it was announced that Harry and Meghan would formally split from the joint charity and set up their own foundation, following the separation of their two households, with the Sussexes decamping from Kensington Palace to Frogmore Cottage.  

Meanwhile, the two households have also been rumoured to be engaging in what seemed to be a game of one-upmanship by posting social media photos around the same time. 

Royal Expert Camilla Tominey appeared on This Morning in May and warned that there could be trouble ahead, with William and Kate feeling desperate not to be overshadowed, while Harry and Meghan are keen to remain relevant. 

Camilla Tomliney opened up about the clash on This Morning, saying that social media clashes ‘did cause a bit of tension.’ 

She added: ‘It seems like, why would you release photographs that [the newspapers] all want to run, it seems like there’s a bit of a clash.

Royal experts told earlier this year how the two households were struggling for the spotlight, with Prince William and Kate desperate not to be overshadowed, but Prince Harry and Meghan keen to avoid being sidelined

‘I think this is going to be the problem moving forward.’

She suggested it wasn’t ‘sinister’, explaining: ‘William and Kate are a future king and queen who want to remain relevant and don’t want to be overshadowed.

‘The Sussex’s have a sprinkling of stardust because of transatlantic nature of their relationship and the glamour of Meghan. But they’re much further down the pecking order. So how do they maintain their relevance?’

‘So what you have is a couple not wanting to be overshadowed, and a couple not wanting to be sidelined. It means that they’re both trying to push their message forward.’