Royal commentator claims Duchess has reopened old wounds, urges family to support Harry through emotional healing
As quiet peace talks between the Duke of Sussex and the royal household begin to unfold, Meghan Markle has been sharply criticised by columnist Sarah Vine, who claims the Duchess has exacerbated Prince Harry’s emotional struggles rather than helped him heal.
In a recent Daily Mail column, Vine drew comparisons between Meghan and Princess Catherine, suggesting that while Catherine helped Prince William process the grief of losing their mother, Princess Diana, Meghan has had a starkly different influence on Harry.
“Instead of helping him heal his emotional wounds, she seems to have reopened or even rubbed salt in them,” Vine wrote. “Instead of encouraging him to shape his own identity within the Royal Family, she has helped him turn his back on it.”
Vine argued that while stepping away from royal duties might have led to something meaningful and transformative, the Duke and Duchess “didn’t embark on anything truly life-affirming,” instead leaving behind a trail of strained relationships and public grievances.
Despite the pointed criticism, Vine called on the royal family to show compassion and bring Harry back into the fold, stressing that support and understanding could help him process his “complex, deep-seated emotional” trauma.
“When someone is in as much pain as Harry clearly is, they lash out at anyone within reach, especially those tied to them by blood,” she said, suggesting that Harry may only find peace through familial acceptance and emotional stability.
As speculation around a potential reunion continues, the royal family faces a delicate balancing act: reconciling personal rifts while preserving the institution’s unity — and perhaps, finding a way to welcome Harry back without reigniting past divisions.
