Prince Harry 'stormed off in a huff' over fan's Christmas request, claims expert

27 December 2023 , 17:53

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Harry credited Cressida for helping him seek therapy (Image: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Prince Harry’s alleged run-in with a royal fan reportedly led to the breakdown of his relationship with Cressida Bonas.

The couple was set up by Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenie, and they dated on and off from 2012 until 2014, when they eventually parted ways for good. However, one royal author has seemingly pinpointed the moment their romance began going downhill, and suggested it had something to do with Harry’s brusque response to an elderly fan.

Tina Brown, author of the best-selling book The Palace Papers, recounted the incident, and revealed the couple was staying with Cressida’s half-sister and other family members over Christmas in 2013. They decided to visit a small pub in Kidlington, just outside Oxford, for lunch and had managed to secure a table tucked away at the back of the establishment.

Harry and Cressida began dating in 2012 (AFP/Getty Images)

The couple's on/off relationship ended for good in 2014 (Dan Wooller/REX)

After finishing their food, the couple got up to leave, but was were interrupted by a fan in the pub. Suddenly as they were leaving, this quite elderly, sweet-looking gentleman came out and said: "Oh, sir, so sorry, I know it’s Christmas time, but could I just take a photograph to give to my wife who isn’t well?’” Tina wrote.

"And so Cressida opened her mouth and said: ‘Oh, of course.’ And Harry said: ‘Get out of my way’ and went bright red in the face and stormed off in a huff," she claimed. The incident has not been confirmed by the Duke of Sussex, who briefly wrote about their relationship in his explosive memoir, Spare, which was released earlier this year.

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Cressida was 'spooked' by the intensity of royal life (WireImage)

In another incident, which occurred just a few weeks after the alleged confrontation in the pub, Harry and Cressida were heading into London for a romantic night out on Valentine’s Day. "A family friend told me she knew the relationship wouldn’t last when there was a blow-up on Valentine’s Day," Tina began.

"En route to the restaurant, they were driving down Kensington High Street when Harry got word that there was a photographer lying in wait. He slammed on the brakes, did a spin turn in the middle of the street and gunned it back to (Nottingham Cottage) for a Valentine’s night of pizza,”"she claimed.

She's now married to Harry Wentworth-Stanley (Harry Wentworth-Stanley/Instagram)

Harry’s aversion to being out in public and being followed by paparazzi allegedly gave Cressida "serious qualms" about their relationship, and the budding actress was "spooked" by photos of Prince William and Kate Middleton touring New Zealand and Australia with baby George. However, Cressida urged Harry to seek professional help regarding his mental well-being just before they split.

"There was massive affection, deep and abiding loyalty — but not love everlasting," he wrote of their split in his memoir. The former couple parted ways for good in 2014, but Cressida is still regarded as one of Harry’s close friends, and was even invited to his wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018. The actress wed Harry Wentworth-Stanley in 2020 and the pair welcomed son Wilbur last year.

Emma Wilson