Prince Harry: Royal’s life in ‘gilded exile’ wearing thin as Colombia tour with Meghan Markle continues

Friends of Prince Harry have told of their fears for the royal as the Sussexes turn on the charm in Colombia.

Prince Harry’s life in “gilded exile” is wearing thin as the US is “not where he wanted to end up”, according to friends of the wayward royal.

As the royal and wife Meghan Markle continue their controversial four-day visit to Colombia, old friends of Prince Harry claim he is feeling increasingly “isolated” and misses his old life in the UK.

As he approaches his milestone 40th birthday on September 15, The Sunday Times reports that Prince Harry is now at a crossroads after years of internal feuding with King Charles and Prince William.

Prince Harry on tour with wife Meghan Markle in Colombia. Picture: AFP

The Sussexes bring Hollywood glamour to the streets of San Basilio de Palenque in Cartagena, Colombia. Picture: Getty Images

A source who has known Prince Harry since he was a teenager told The Sunday Times: “I know how important it is for him to have a happy, settled family life, but you need to do more than that if you’re him.

“He has ended up isolated from his family and most of his old mates, in an environment where your friendships are not like the ones you forged as a young man.”

The friend claimed that Prince Harry was ill-suited to the Californian lifestyle.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle play drums at La Boquilla drum school in Cartagena, Bolivar department, Colombia. Picture: AFP

The Sussexes with students of the La Giralda School in Bogota. Picture: AFP

“He used to love a night out in the pub and hanging out in the country with friends. Maybe he has grown into a different person, but do I think he’d really suit the Californian lifestyle? No.

“Now we’ve seen it all play out, what has that left him with? On the surface, an enviable lifestyle — but for the Harry I know, I can’t imagine that gilded exile in California is where he wanted to end up.”

Another friend told The Sunday Times that Harry would be feeling left out due to Prince William and Princess Catherine’s huge popularity in the UK.

Prince Harry speaks during the Responsible Digital Future forum in Bogota. Picture: AFP

Colombian marines patrol next to a street vendor during security operations before the arrival of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in San Basilio de Palenque, Colombia. Picture: AFP

“Things haven’t turned out how he wanted. I think he misses being over here (in Britain) desperately and wants to be admired more. Anyone who knows him feels he’d rather be top of the pops here with everyone loving him, as they do with William and Kate.”

It comes as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle contine their tour of Colombia under the protection of a “ring of steel” security detail.

The country is in political turmoil with the government accused in some quarters of using the former working royals as “political pawns” to obscure a string of corruption allegations.

Prince Harry and Meghan spent the third day of their quasi royal tour in Colombia with a jam-packed schedule.

They swayed to the beat of loud music while playing the drums at a dance class, metres from the Caribbean Sea in a suburb of the port city of Cartagena.

Originally published as Prince Harry: Royal’s life in ‘gilded exile’ wearing thin as Colombia tour with Meghan Markle continues