HARRY AT A CROSSROADS

As the prince turns 40, royal experts paint a picture of a troubled soul- isolated, homesick and struggling to find a purpose in life

- NICI DE WET

IT’S a milestone birthday for Prince Harry. It’s also a time in midlife when most people pause and reflect on their life . . .

And for Prince Harry, who celebrates his 40th on 15 September, it will no doubt be a bittersweet one as he looks back at his past and ponders his future.

On the surface he certainly seems to have it all – a beautiful and doting wife, two healthy children, financial freedom and a pretty laidback life in California far away from the gilded cage of the royal family. He’s also about to inherit a whopping windfall from his great-grandmother, the Queen Mother, as he heads into his fifth decade. But it’s come at a price.

After 2020’s Megxit and his string of public attacks on the monarchy, Harry’s relationships with his father, King Charles, and brother, Prince William, are in tatters – as is his relationship with the broader royal family, who insiders say couldn’t care less if he never stepped foot back in England again. And while he appears to find joy from his work with his beloved Invictus Games and as a speaker and activist on causes close to his heart, there’s speculation that behind his seemingly perfect life, Harry is lost.

In a bombshell report in the UK’s Sunday Times Magazine, royal editor Roya Nikkhah lifts the lid on what Harry’s life is really like, speaking to a parade of the duke’s former pals, who remained anonymous.

Most agree that Harry is secretly troubled, dwelling on the past and struggling to find a sense of purpose.

It appears the duke is at a crossroads, torn between battling old demons and getting on with his life.

As one former aide put it, “What is the purpose of Prince Harry and what is Prince Harry’s purpose? He must be wondering, ‘Where do I go from here?’” “All he does is spend time looking back,” another source says. “If only he could wrench his neck around and look forwards.”