'Utterly Miserable': Royal Author Draws a Surprising Parallel Between Prince Harry and Edward VIII
Prince Harry may have chosen a different life away from the Royal Family, but a royal author believes his decision has come at a cost.
Prince Harry may have chosen a different life away from the Royal Family, but a royal author believes his decision has come at a cost. While the Prince's decisions have faced continuous scrutiny since his exit, experts are now drawing a surprising comparison between the Duke of Sussex and Edward VIII. A royal expert has claimed that choosing duty over personal happiness can make a person happier in the long run.
Hugo Vickers recently appeared on a special episode of Palace Confidential, hosted by Luke Blackall, to discuss his 2011 book, Behind Closed Doors: The Tragic, Untold Story of the Duchess of Windsor. The book is back in the spotlight as it is inspiring a new film, My Duchess, starring Joan Collins, Isabella Rossellini, and Charles Dance. During the conversation, Vickers compared Harry to Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne in 1936 to marry American socialite Wallis Simpson. Because the British government refused to accept the marriage, Edward was left with a choice between keeping his crown and stepping down, and he chose the latter.
The expert opined that Edward did not appear to find the happiness he may have expected after giving up the throne. "I sometimes show in lectures a picture of the Duke of Windsor with really dead, sad eyes, aged 70. I saw him once at Princess Marina's funeral. I have never seen a man with such sad eyes, deep into his soul," he added. Vickers then compared Edward's appearance with that of Queen Elizabeth II, who continued carrying out her royal duties well into her later years. For the author, the contrast showed why choosing duty could bring greater happiness than following what appears to be the happier path.
Bringing Prince Harry into the conversation, Vickers added that the Duke of Sussex appears to be experiencing a similar unhappiness after stepping away from royal life. He continued, "If ever you have to choose between the two, duty will always make you happier in the long run. You see that with Prince Harry; he took a different path, and he looks utterly miserable." However, the comparison did not extend to Meghan Markle and Simpson.
Further along in the interview, Vickers rejected comparisons, stating, "The only comparison between Meghan Markle and the Duchess of Windsor is that they're both American and both had previous husbands. Otherwise, it ends there." He continued, "Because, actually, the Duchess of Windsor looked after the Duke extremely well. He ate really delicious food in beautiful surroundings. She was very stylish and elegant, and what she was doing, in a sense, which is so interesting, is keeping the myth alive that this was the greatest love story of the 20th century."
