Royal Parallels and a Rift That Never Healed

To understand why Prince Philip’s nickname carried such weight, you have to go back nearly a century. Wallis Simpson’s marriage to King Edward VIII shook the very foundation of the British monarchy. Her presence sparked national outrage, forcing the king to choose between love and the crown. His abdication in 1936 led to years of exile for the couple, during which their association with Nazi Germany only deepened their notoriety.

That shadow still lingers in royal history — and for Philip, those echoes seemed impossible to ignore.
“He couldn’t get away from the similarities between Harry and Meghan, and Edward and Mrs. Simpson,” Seward told GB News. “That’s why he used to call her the Duchess of Windsor — though never to her face.”

While Philip was cautious and reserved in his judgment, Queen Elizabeth reportedly hoped Meghan’s arrival might bring renewed energy to the monarchy. Sadly, that optimism didn’t last.
The couple’s departure from royal duties in 2020 — and their subsequent interviews, documentaries, and Prince Harry’s explosive memoir Spare — only deepened the rift between the Sussexes and the rest of the family.

Today, Harry and Meghan live in California, far from the traditions and scrutiny of palace life. They’ve built a new chapter together, focused on independence, advocacy, and family. Yet the comparisons, criticisms, and memories of their royal years continue to follow them.

According to the Daily Express, Harry is expected to return to the UK for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games on May 8 at St. Paul’s Cathedral — but Meghan will remain in the U.S., citing safety concerns and a desire to avoid further controversy.

Even now, it seems, the echoes of history — and the shadow of old royal judgments — still linger.