The Duke of Sussex admitted in his tawdry memoirs that he was slammed by some of his oldest friends for the explosive interview that he and his wife, Meghan, gave to Oprah Winfrey.
One friend who loyally stood by him, however, was James Haskell, the former England rugby star who attended his wedding.
Haskell said that he and Harry often compare notes on parenting and even defended his friend’s decision to publish his book, Spare.
‘When someone feels like they and their partner have been oppressed, lied about, contradicted and put into a corner, I think it’s very important [to speak out],’ he said.
Now, though, Haskell has let slip what he really thinks, claiming that Harry has changed for the worse since marrying the American former actress.
Wasps captain James Haskell and Prince Harry in the special edition shirts to publicise the Invictus Games in 2014
Prince Harry speaks with James Haskell during a visit to an England Rugby Squad training session at Twickenham Stadium in 2017
The controversial Endgame book by author Omid Scobie about the British Royal family including Meghan Markle and Prince Harry for sale in a book shop in Surrey
Referring to how he met King Charles’s younger son at the 2011 wedding of his friend and fellow former England rugby star Mike Tindall to Zara Phillips, Haskell said: ‘Who should be there, wandering around having a good time, but Prince Harry.
‘He hadn’t met her [Meghan] yet, so he was still quite fun.’
Haskell made the comment on stage at Bath Forum, in Somerset, for the World Cup Afterparty: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – a live version of their popular rugby podcast.
His remark was met with cheers and also applause from the audience.
Earlier this year, Haskell and Tindall recorded a special World Cup edition of their podcast at Windsor Castle with Tindall’s mother-in-law, Princess Anne, as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales.
And, on stage in Bath, Haskell mocked Tindall for his alleged deference to his in-laws.
‘I don’t know how to say this but Tinds is a proper brown-nose around the royals,’ he declared.
‘He’s taken brown-nosing to a new level. They called him “Solesy” at the palace because the only thing you see hanging out of their backsides are the soles of his feet.
Prince Harry talks to James Haskell during a visit to the England rugby team open training session at Twickenham Stadium in London in 2018
‘And he’s also known as a bit of a cuckoo because since he joined up he’s had Harry out and he’s had [Prince] Andrew out [of the family] as well. He’s one big plane crash away from being King.’
With the audience laughing, Haskell joked: ‘He keeps trying to book their travel. Charles will be asking him, “Do we really have to fly to Afghanistan? And all together? And on Ryanair?”‘
Haskell also had a tongue-in-cheek pop at the service they received at Windsor Castle. ‘The tea we were served came in chipped mismatching mugs with cheesy slogans on.
‘”Best dad in the world”, “I hate my brother”. One with Prince Andrew on, someone had crossed out the picture, and written ‘K***head’ on it.’
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