Growing up, Prince Harry had a tight-knit circle of friends, including Hugh van Cutsem, the son of a close friend of King Charles. This friendship was not only with Harry but also extended to Prince William. Hugh’s family, including his brothers, had close relationships with William and Harry, being godparents to each other’s children. Hugh and his wife Rose Astor were close to the royal family, with their daughter Grace even being a bridesmaid at William and Kate’s wedding in 2011. However, tensions began to rise in their relationship when Rose appeared to mock Harry and Meghan on social media in 2020, and Harry himself hinted at rifts in his memoir, “Spare”.
Despite the long-standing relationship between Hugh and the royal family, including having been guests at Harry and Meghan’s wedding, cracks began to show in their friendship after Harry and Meghan’s departure from royal duties. Harry alluded to falling out with some of his old friends, including the van Cutsems, after his and Meghan’s interview with Oprah Winfrey. The memoir also mentioned that some members of Harry’s friendship circle were “genuinely disgusted” by his revelations. The close-knit circle that Harry and William had created with their friends seemed to be impacted by the fallout from Harry’s tell-all interviews.
Hugh’s recent appearance on Jeremy Clarkson’s TV show “Clarkson’s Farm” has thrown their friendship back into the spotlight. Hugh was featured as a deer stalking expert on the show, alongside former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson, who had previously apologized for comments made about Harry’s wife Meghan. Hugh’s participation in the show has only served to highlight the rift between him and Harry, with tensions already bubbling under the surface due to previous incidents. The fallout from Harry’s revelations in his memoir and interviews, and the comments made by Rose on social media, seem to have strained the once close relationship between the two families.
The tensions between Harry and the van Cutsem family, especially Hugh’s mother Emilie, were further exacerbated by his revelations and public statements post his departure from royal duties. Harry’s memoir alluded to the backlash he faced from close friends and family, including the van Cutsems, for sharing intimate details about the royal family in the interviews. While their friendship had been strong for many years, the fallout from Harry’s decisions to speak publicly about royal matters seemed to have eroded the trust and loyalty between the families. The dynamics of their relationship, once tight and dependable, appear to have shifted due to these recent events.
The friendship between Hugh van Cutsem and Prince Harry, a connection that dated back to their childhoods, seemed to have taken a turn for the worse in recent years. The appearance of Hugh on Jeremy Clarkson’s TV show reignited public interest in their relationship and highlighted the apparent rift that had developed. The family ties, including being godparents to each other’s children, and attending significant events like royal weddings, could not withstand the strain caused by the fallout from Harry’s public statements. The impact of these events became apparent through Harry’s memoir and subsequent statements from royal experts, painting a picture of discord within their once close-knit circle of friends. Despite the memories of their childhood friendship, it seems that Prince Harry and Hugh van Cutsem are now embroiled in a rift that may be difficult to reconcile.
