Princess Diana's Family's Support for Prince Harry Reportedly Irked the Palace

Kristyn Burtt
·2 min read
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While there has been quite a bit of fuss over the royal family snubbing Prince Harry’s Invictus Games celebration at St. Paul’s Cathedral on Wednesday, the Duke of Sussex received warm support from the other side of his family. Princess Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, and sister Jane Fellowes, were seen warmly embracing Harry to mark a very poignant day in his career.

Former BBC royal correspondent Michael Cole explained to the Daily Mail that the royal family “divide was shown in its deepest and starkest form” on Wednesday while most of King Charles’ side enjoyed a garden party just miles away at Buckingham Palace. The rift, though, isn’t just with Harry, it has many more layers to it and goes back decades. Cole shared that there “never was much love lost between the Spencers and the Windsors,” which might be why the Spencer family made sure to show up for the Duke of Sussex to honor the Invictus Games’ 10th-anniversary milestone.

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OBAN, SCOTLAND - JUNE 10: Earl Spencer (R) and his nephew Prince Harry follow the coffin of Spencer's mother Frances Shand Kydd from the Cathedral of Saint Columba on June 10, 2004 in Oban, Argyll & Bute, Scotland. Mrs Shand Kydd died last Thursday, June 3, at her home on the remote Isle of Seil, aged 68, after a long illness. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
OBAN, SCOTLAND – JUNE 10: Earl Spencer (R) and his nephew Prince Harry follow the coffin of Spencer’s mother Frances Shand Kydd from the Cathedral of Saint Columba on June 10, 2004 in Oban, Argyll & Bute, Scotland.

Cole shared that the rivalry goes back to 1981 when Diana’s father, Johnnie Spencer advised his daughter to stay away from the royal family and not marry the then-Prince Charles. He believed his daughter should “follow the example of her oldest sister Sarah: marry a country landowner, live in a nice house, have children, be happy.” Diana’s father had reasons for believing that life at the palace would not make her happy.

“Johnnie saw the Royal Family up close and personal. He was not in the least starry-eyed about the Windsors – now Mountbatten-Windsors – and wanted to safeguard his youngest daughter from the incessant public scrutiny that would be her fate as Princess of Wales,” Cole added. Sadly, Johnnie’s prediction turned out to be true, and even though the Princess of Wales charmed the world, her misery seemed to be set in stone behind palace walls.

While The Daily Beast is reporting the feud between Harry and King Charles III is “back to square one,” the Spencers are holding strong to their family ties with the Duke of Sussex. His accomplishments with the Invictus Games deserve all the kudos in the world and the Spencer family’s presence ruffled a few feathers with the royal family — yet again.

Before you go, click here to see all of our favorite photos of Princess Diana.

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