The Actress Walked Away From Royal Expectations to Pursue a Different Future
Before Prince Harry’s marriage to Meghan Markle, he shared a two-year, on-and-off relationship with model and actress Cressida Bonas, reportedly introduced to him by his cousin, Princess Eugenie. While the relationship held promise, it ultimately ended, with Cressida choosing to step away from the constraints of royal life.
According to royal expert Robert Lacey in Battle of Brothers, Cressida struggled with the intense scrutiny that came with dating a royal. As an aspiring actress, she felt stifled by the relentless public attention, describing the experience as feeling “boxed in.”
The turning point came in 2014, when Cressida watched TV coverage of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s royal tour of New Zealand and Australia with their young son, Prince George. Seeing the immense demands and public exposure of royal life, particularly as a parent, made her realise it was not the future she wanted.
Despite the breakup, the split was amicable, and Harry and Cressida remained friends. She even attended Harry and Meghan’s wedding in 2018, highlighting their mutual respect and enduring bond.
Today, Cressida is happily married to Harry Wentworth-Stanley and expecting her second child. Both she and Prince Harry have moved forward on separate paths, finding happiness and fulfillment in their respective lives.
