Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Allegedly Feel ‘Validated’ After Andrew’s Arrest: ‘They’re Gloating’
Friends of the Sussexes claim that Andrew's arrest confirms the couple's long-held belief that the monarchy was deeply flawed.
Although Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have stayed silent on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest, insiders allege they privately feel vindicated, viewing it as further proof of the monarchy's deep-rooted flaws. The development, they believe, affirms the royal couple's 2020 decision to step down as senior royals. The arrest brings back the Duke's criticism of the Firm in his memoir, particularly his claim that he and his wife were stripped of their security while his uncle retained protection despite the seriousness of his crimes.
Royal columnist Rob Shuter documented his sources' accounts on his Substack, with one insider saying, "They're [Harry and Markle] gloating. They do feel validated. For years, they were painted as the problem." Similarly, another asserted, "Harry always said there were serious issues behind palace walls. The public is only now seeing how messy it really was." They argued that Mountbatten-Windsor's detention reaffirmed Harry and Markle's private belief that the institution they left behind was riddled with cracks, especially regarding their long-standing battle for taxpayer-funded security. "They were criticized for escaping. Now people understand that leaving wasn't impulsive — it was survival."
Additionally, Shuter stressed that the security issue for the Sussexes remains deeply personal. In his memoir, Spare, Harry wrote about his fears that he and Markle would lose protection, noting the contrast with Mountbatten-Windsor's situation at the time. He penned, "Not in the wake of my Uncle Andrew. He was embroiled in a shameful scandal, accused of the s----- assault of a young woman, and no one had so much as suggested that he lose his security. Whatever grievances people had against us, s-- crimes weren't on the list." These exact words, insiders claimed, echoed again after the former Prince's arrest. A long-time friend spilled, "For Harry, this isn't about revenge. It's about fairness. He felt the rules were applied differently."
In a similar vein, a source also told The Mirror of the Duke's stance on the monarchy's ongoing peril, "Harry made his views about Andrew abundantly clear in his book three years ago, at a time when other parts of the institution remained silent. For that candor, he was vilified and ostracized by the institution, sections of the press, and significant parts of British society for 'airing the family's dirty laundry' and challenging the status quo." The Prince had written in his book that he had used his disgraced uncle's example to comfort his wife when she had asked if they would be left without security.
Meanwhile, Harry's friends also asserted that the Duke was reportedly uneasy about being compared with his disgraced uncle, arguing that the circumstances and the conduct involved were not comparable. An insider told GB News, "Harry served his country, did the job well, and never engaged in misconduct, yet lost security and housing, while Andrew was protected for years," adding that Harry believed in justice and accountability, which is very much in line with his character.
