Royal war! Kate Middleton’s uncle: ‘She is trying to mediate – Prince Harry needs to get a grip’

As the fallout with Harry and Meghan deepens, The Duchess of Cambridge’s uncle, Gary Goldsmith, tells Closer she is the key to healing their rift with the royal family

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by Lisa Blake |
Updated on

It’s been bombshell after bombshell from Prince Harry as he continues to blast members of the royal family in his apparent war against the Palace.

In his latest scathing comments, he criticised his dad, Prince Charles, for not doing enough to prevent him and Prince William from suffering following the death of their mother, Princess Diana, and accused the family of “total neglect” when his wife Meghan Markle struggled with her mental health.

The Queen – recently widowed after the death of Prince Philip in April – is said to be feeling “upset” and “blindsided” by the confessions in Harry’s new Apple TV docuseries, The Me You Can’t See, which he produced with Oprah Winfrey.

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Meghan told Oprah that Kate made her cry ©ITV

Prince William, 39, and wife Kate, 40, have also been in the Sussex’s firing line, following the couple’s infamous interview with Oprah in February, with Harry, 36, describing William as being “trapped” and Meghan, 39, saying Kate made her cry.

With public support for the former royal couple appearing to be waning, Kate’s uncle, Gary Goldsmith, now tells Closer that while the outbursts have been upsetting, he believes Kate is the key to fixing the fractured relationship.

Recruitment consultant Gary, 56, who is the younger brother of Kate’s mother, Carole Middleton, says, “I went from being happy [about Harry taking the decision to seek a more “private life”] to angry, to worried about him.

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William and Kate looked happy and relaxed in St Andrews last week ©Getty Images

“Everyone is astonished. He wanted to step back and protect his wife, now he’s charging in. It’s an attack on the family – why do it? If you want an easy life, work it out privately and have a conversation respectfully. Don’t air it in public, it’s really hurtful.

“The harsh truth – in my opinion – is that if Harry doesn’t get a grip and stop this self-indulgent episode, there will soon be no common ground or relationship to rebuild.

“But if anyone can bring peace to the royals, Kate can. Kate is a brilliant arbiter and peacemaker. Every bone in her body is about making friends and doing the best she can... She’s trying to mediate.”

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Meghan and Kate at Wimbledon in 2019 ©Shutterstock

Gary tells Closer that despite Harry’s attacks on the monarchy – including claims of racism and not helping with mental health problems – he believes the royals won’t be “damaged” by it.

He says, “I’ve never been more proud of the royal family. They give us a sense of stability and they’ve kept their dignity. Everyone loves our Queen and I think, with everything going on in the world at the moment, the royals are as important today as ever for our nation. This won’t be damaging to them at all.”

When Meghan was introduced into the fold in 2017, Kate is said to have welcomed her and, with their husbands, they were famously dubbed “The Fab Four”.

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William, Harry, Meghan and Kate were dubbed “The Fab Four” ©Getty images

Then, with tensions reportedly rising between William and Harry, Kate took Meghan to Wimbledon in 2019 to show solidarity. And in April, she acted as peacemaker again at Prince Philip’s funeral, when she was seen moving away to give Harry and William space to talk after coming face to face for the first time in 16 months.

Gary continues, “You could see at the funeral that Kate was there trying to make peace, bringing the brothers together.

“Harry and Kate were great friends, they were a trio with William and a strong unit. Family and relationships are everything to Kate – she’s very nurturing, she wouldn’t like that [rift] happening and she is trying to look after her husband and do what she can to make things right.”

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The Queen is said to be “upset” at Harry’s revelations ©Shutterstock

Despite admitting to years of therapy and insisting he’s now happy, his outbursts have led many to believe that Harry is not truly content.

Just last week, Paul Burrell – Princess Diana’s “rock” and her butler for 10 years – told Closer that Diana would be heartbroken by the feud, and that he believes Harry is “destroying himself” by lashing out at his family. Paul added, “He won’t heal if he keeps doing this – it’ll make things worse in the long run.”

Meanwhile, aristocrat and friend of Prince Andrew, Lady Victoria Hervey, told Closer she didn’t see their marriage lasting, insisting, “I think Harry and Meghan’s courtship was way too short... That’s why Kate and William’s relationship is so successful – they were together for such a long time before getting married.”

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Kate's uncle gary has spoken out ©getty images

Meanwhile, William and Kate were heaped with praise for their successful seven-day tour of Scotland last week.

The pair put on a united and relaxed display as they returned to St Andrews – the place they first met at university nearly two decades ago. William gushed, “It was here in Scotland 20 years ago this year that I first met Catherine. Needless to say, the town where you meet your future wife holds a very special place in your heart.”

Check out: 9 times Meghan Markle dressed like Princess Diana

Gallery

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All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana

The glittering Roland Mouret gown worn by Meghan at the premiere of Cirque du Soleil's Totem show was reminiscent of a Catherine Walker dress Princess Diana wore in 1990.

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All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana

Both Meghan and Diana chose a monochrome color palette for visits to Royal Ascot.

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All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana

It seems both royals are a fan of pairing red and purple. Princess Diana wore the combo a visit to Hong Kong in November 1989 while Meghan wore it on a visit to Birkenhead in January of 2019.

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All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana

In 1987 Princess Diana wore tartan at Bute Highland Games in Scotland and two decades later Meghan wore a Burberry tartan coat for an official visit to Scotland during her engagement.

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All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana

Meghan sheer pleated Givenchy skirt (which caused quite the controversy) and matching top may well have been inspired by Princess Diana's all-blue look from 1982.

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All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana

Both royal women are a fan of pinstripes, as seen by this pinstriped blazer worn by Diana in Sheffield and the buttoned Altuzarra dress Meghan wore at the Commonwealth Youth Forum.

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All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana

Even at the end of her royal duties, Meghan channelled Diana in her wardrobe. Just look at this green dress and matching hat worn by Meghan on Commonwealth Day compared to Diana's Trooping of the Colour dress and hat from 1982.

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All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana

At the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, one of the very first times we saw Meghan and Harry in public together, Meghan and her cali-girl vibes looked very similar to an outfit Princess Diana wore while in Bosnia.

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All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana

Not ones to shy away from colour, Princess Diana and Meghan also both know just how amazing a simple white dress can look.

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All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana

Both have sported tailored blush pink dresses. Princess Diana wore a Versace coat dress in 1995 while The Duchess of Sussex wore a modern take on the trend when visiting the Nelson Mandela Centenary Exhibition at Southbank Centre in London.

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All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana

Meghan's second wedding dress (a Stella McCartney design) was noticeably similar to a high-necked evening gown worn by Princess Diana at a reception at Spencer House in London.

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All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana

Meghan wore a stunning Safiyaa caped red gown o the Mountbatten Festival of Music at Royal Albert Hall that looked very similar to the red Jacques Azagury dress Diana wore to an American Red Cross dinner in 1997.

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All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana

The chic plaid suit that Diana wore while at Paddington Station in London in 1988 looks very similar to an off-the-shoulder structured shirt Meghan wore on a visit to Wales.

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All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana

The off-the-shoulder pink Carolina Herrera dress Meghan wore to Trooping the Colour was rather similar to Princess Diana's look worn at the Royal Ballet in Germany in 1987.

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All The Times Meghan Markle Dressed Like Princess Diana

At Commonwealth Day in March 2019 Meghan wore an emerald green Erden coat not dissimilar to the one worn by Princess Diana in 1982.

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Get the best celeb interviews in Closer magazine each week ©Closer magazine

Kate melted hearts when she visited five-year-old cancer patient Mila Sneddon, wearing a “Princess pink” dress as requested by Mila, who wanted to see a real-life princess.

Gary continues, “I’m sorry that Harry thinks he’s had a tough time, but I can see from my niece that she is very happy [in the family]. She’s doing a great job. She is under a microscope all of the time, she is a mother of three, working hard – and she is genuinely happy and enjoying her time in the family.”

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During Harry and Meghan’s interview with Oprah Winfrey in February, Meghan accused Kate of making her cry. Back in 2018, a report emerged that during a discussion about a bridesmaid outfit for Kate’s daughter Charlotte ahead of Meghan and Harry’s wedding, Kate had been left in tears. However, Meghan told Oprah that the “reverse was true”.

Meghan said, “She made me cry and it really hurt my feelings...” She added that Kate had “apologised”.

But Gary says Meghan’s claim Kate made her cry was not true. He says, “I 1,000 per cent don’t believe it, it’s not in her nature. Catherine is a very beautiful and gentle soul.”

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