Prince Harry Was 'Frustrated By The Comparisons' With Andrew, Insider Claims
As Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested, sources say Harry resents being grouped with the King’s brother
When Prince Harry stepped down as a working royal in 2020, it was his own decision. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, by contrast, was forced to withdraw from public duties following the fallout from his association with Jeffrey Epstein, especially after his disastrous Newsnight interview in 2019. Yet despite the very different paths that led them there, comparisons between the two have continued—something Harry is said to find very frustrating.
Sources close to the Duke of Sussex say he has long been uneasy about being grouped with the King’s younger brother. While both men are no longer working members of the Royal Family, those close to Harry argue the circumstances—and the conduct involved—are not comparable. That frustration has resurfaced following Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest on Thursday morning at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk. He was taken into custody on suspicion of misconduct in public office, with allegations centered on claims that he passed confidential information while serving as the UK’s trade envoy. After spending 11 hours in police custody—on his 66th birthday—he was released later that evening.
A source close to the Duke of Sussex said, "In this moment, it's sad and embarrassing for the entire family.” At the same time, the insider pointed to what Harry has long seen as an unfair narrative. “He was frustrated by the comparisons. It was never fair to lump them together,” the source said, as reported by GB News.
They added, “Harry served his country, did the job well, and never engaged in misconduct, yet lost security and housing, while Andrew was protected for years.” Harry and Meghan Markle were stripped of publicly funded security after they stepped back from royal duties. In contrast, Mountbatten-Windsor retained certain protections for a significant period even after stepping away from public life.
The perception that the two men were similar liabilities to the monarchy was once common in palace circles. For those close to Harry, the matter is not fair at all. “Harry believes in justice and accountability, that's very much in line with his character,” the source said.
Harry addressed the issue directly in his 2023 memoir, Spare. He recalled discussing with Markle the possibility of losing their security and wrote that he never believed such a move would actually happen, particularly given that Mountbatten-Windsor had retained his protection despite being embroiled in scandal. He noted that despite Mountbatten-Windsor’s situation, there was not a suggestion of stripping him of his security detail, yet he and Markle ultimately lost theirs.
