The breakup between Prince Harry and Cressida Bonas, orchestrated by an apparent altercation with a royal admirer, is detailed in the account of best-selling author Tina Brown. The couple, initially introduced by Harry's cousin Princess Eugenie, navigated an on-and-off relationship from 2012 to 2014.
In her narrative, Tina Brown identifies a pivotal moment that catalyzed the decline of their relationship. Brown attributes the split to Prince Harry's chilly response to an elderly admirer.
According to Brown's report, the couple spent Christmas 2013 in the company of Cressida's half-sister and other family members. During a lunch outing at a quaint pub in Kidlington, just outside Oxford, an unforeseen interruption unfolded.
As they were preparing to leave, a benevolent elderly man approached and requested a photograph to gift to his unwell wife. Cressida, amiable in her response, acquiesced, but Prince Harry's reaction was starkly different. Brown recounts, "Cressida opened her mouth and said: ‘Oh, of course.’ And Harry said: ‘Get out of my way’ and went bright red in the face and stormed off in a huff."
The Duke of Sussex, in his controversial memoir, "Spare," released earlier this year, did not corroborate the mentioned incident.
Reportedly, Harry's apprehension about public appearances, particularly in the presence of paparazzi, heightened Cressida's unease about their relationship. She also expressed discomfort with images of Prince William, Kate Middleton, and baby George during their tour of New Zealand and Australia. Despite advising Harry to seek professional help for his mental health, their relationship ultimately ended.
Harry, reflecting on their split in his memoir, wrote, "There was massive affection, deep and abiding loyalty — but not love everlasting."
Despite their final breakup in 2014, Prince Harry still considers Cressida one of his close friends, evident in her invitation to his wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018.
