The Duke of Sussex was clearly in no mood to play nice while running errands in Santa Barbara on August 2.
A pre-occupied Prince Harry hid behind his sunglasses, kept his head down and at one point, even “stormed off” an onlooker told New Idea.
He also hid behind a nondescript doorway to avoid the curious stares of passersby.
“It looked like he did not want to interact with the public,” one observer added.
That Harry, 39, was apparently in poor temper is hardly a surprise a royal insider tells New Idea.
“He just had the week from hell,” they state bluntly.
“From the failure of his latest TV interview cutting through, to some personal family losses, it’s no wonder Harry wanted to hide.”
Adding to his woes is the fact that he and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex have been slammed for scheduling a four-day visit to Colombia later this month.
This is despite both US and UK governments advising their citizens against travel to the volatile country.
After Harry recently said he would not return to the UK with Meghan, 43, because it’s “too dangerous”, their quasi-royal visit to Colombia has been deemed “hypocritical.”
“They have chosen to visit one of the world’s most dangerous countries,” a former royal protection officer told the Daily Mail. “But nothing [the Sussexes do] amazes me these days.”
TV TELL-ALL FALLS FLAT
Harry recently participated in the ITV documentary Tabloids on Trial. But the program was soundly beaten in the ratings by a show about air safety.
“It seems the public appetite for his complaints is waning,” a royal expert told New Idea.
Harry and Meghan also took part in their first joint interview in three years, with CBS, to launch their Parents’ Network anti-bullying initiative.
But many called the interview “tone deaf” as Meghan has been accused of “bullying” some aides while a working royal.
“The whole interview was awkward,” a viewer told New Idea.
BIRTHDAY BANISHMENT
With his milestone 40th birthday approaching, New Idea has learnt that Harry is planning to celebrate his big day, on September 15, In “low-key” fashion.
“He will spend the day at home in Montecito with Meghan and his kids Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet,” an insider tells New Idea.
Given his former party-boy reputation, our source adds that Harry “will be missing his UK pals when he turns 40”.
“He’d love to enjoy a pint with his mates for his birthday – but that is just not going to happen,” our insider adds.
The royals failed to publicly acknowledge Meghan’s 43rd birthday on August 4, and it’s unlikely that Harry will receive any online best wishes from his family either.
Despite aides explaining only the birthdays of “working royals” are celebrated on social media, the snub will “sting Harry all the same”, our insider adds.
TRAGIC LOSSES
Harry’s uncle Lord Robert Fellowes died, aged 82, on July 29. The royal courtier was married to Lady Jane Fellowes, the older sister of Princess Diana.
Harry has “reached out” to his maternal family. At the time of New Idea going to print, he was said to be considering returning to the UK for the funeral, despite his estrangement from his brother, the Prince of Wales, who will attend.
Harry’s ex Cressida Bonas also lost her sister Pandora, 51, to cancer the same week. Both deaths “will have hit Harry hard”, our source says.
COUSINS CUT OFF
Despite the fact that Harry’s son Archie is now five and daughter Lilibet is three, they are yet to meet their royal cousins Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine and Prince Louis, six – and are unlikely to do so any time soon, royal author Phil Dampier said last week.
In fact, the author adds Mike and Zara Tindall’s three children, Mia, 10, Lena, six, and Lucas, three, have “replaced” the Sussex royals in closeness to Prince William and the Princess of Wales’ children.
“It’s so sad that the Wales’ kids … know very little about their cousins across the pond and are never likely to be close to them,” Phil says.
