Meghan Markle is said to not be fond of her husband’s former social circle, particularly his “pheasant shooting friends” who Prince Harry has distanced himself from since their move to the US.
The Duke and Duchess relocated to Montecito, California in 2020 after stepping down from the Royal Family to move across the pond.
This move also saw them sever ties with their previous royal lifestyle and many of the duke’s friends at the time.
However, the Sussexes’ seem to not be troubled by the loss of these friendships as a royal expert claims they are “happy to forget” their past life.
Harry even snubbed Hugh Grosvenor, the 7th Duke of Westminster’s wedding to Olivia Henson last summer, who was once one of the prince’s longest friends.
Prince William however attended the special day and made a solo appearance without his wife Kate Middleton, who was taking time away from the spotlight following her cancer diagnosis.
Royal expert and author Tom Quinn previously told the Mirror: “Harry hates the idea of completely losing touch with his old Etonian and army friends but is aware that Meghan dislikes many of his old woke-hating, pheasant-shooting friends and those old friendships are still intertwined with a past that in many respects Harry is happy to leave behind.
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“The truth is that many of Harry’s old friends especially from the military and Eton just don’t get on with Meghan. Hugh van Cutsem Jr’s decision to work with Jeremy Clarkson, famous for his savage attacks on Meghan, is seen by Harry as an unforgivable betrayal.
“The only thing that makes it bearable is that Harry knows Meghan dislikes van Cutsem and his one claim to fame: his ability to shoot deer.”
Quinn continued: “For Harry the end of his friendship with van Cutsem is just cutting one of the last few ties with his old life; a life he never much enjoyed anyway.”
Harry’s former pal Hugh van Cutsem Jr, who is also a good friend of Prince William’s, is believed to have strong connections to King Charles through his late father.
The chairman of The British Deer Society has also formed strong connections with the candid broadcaster Jeremy Clarkson, even featuring on his programme ‘Clarkson’s Farm’ – a move that has been seen as a deep betrayal to Harry.
Clarkson previously made inflammatory and contentious remarks in a newspaper column where he suggested Meghan should be publicly ridiculed.
The divide between the Duke of Sussex and Hugh has been widening over a few years however with the first strain of evidence showing when Hugh’s wife Rosie Astor poked fun at Harry and Meghan following their ‘stepping back from the Royal family’ announcement in 2020.
At the time, Rosie posted on social media: “I am standing back as a senior member of my tax return, because I’d rather drink coffee, see my friends, love my family and do yoga.”
Meanwhile, in Harry’s 2023 memoir Spare, he confessed there was a row with Hugh after the Sussexes’ explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021.
He penned: “Several close mates and beloved figures in my life, including one of Hugh and Emilie’s sons, Emilie herself, and even Tiggy [Pettifer, his former nanny], had chastised me for Oprah. How could you reveal such things? About your family”.
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