Prince Harry 'dropped' his good friends once he started dating Meghan Markle, comedian says
Prince Harry reportedly lost touch with his longtime friend Jack Whitehall, the comedian claimed during a podcast interview.
Prince Harry cut ties with some longtime friends the moment he started dating Meghan Markle, comedian Jack Whitehall claimed.Â
During a podcast interview, Whitehall, 36, gave a glimpse into his friendship with the Duke of Sussex, 40.
"Iâve come into contact with a couple of [the royals] in the past. I was quite good friends with Harry back in the day. Pre-Meghan, when he was a terror," the comedian said on the "Jase & Lauren" podcast.Â
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When asked if Harry "dropped his mates" when he started dating the "Suits" star, he replied, "Yeah."
Although Whitehall admitted he "had a few nights out" with the royal, he shared that he wasnât present during the infamous night when Harry reportedly played strip billiards with showgirls in Las Vegas.Â
"I was quite good friends with Harry back in the day. Pre-Meghan, when he was a terror."
â Jack Whitehall
"I mean, I wasnât, I wouldnât say, part of the inner circle, to go back to a Vegas analogy," Whitehall added. "But no, I had a few nights out with him when he was quite fun."
The "Bad Education" star said, like the Invictus Games founder, he has also "retired" from his young bachelor days since becoming a father.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex share two children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3.
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Reps for Harry and Markle did not immediately respond to Fox News Digitalâs request for comment.Â
This isnât the first time Harry has been reported to have lost touch with his friends after he began dating Markle, 43.
In August 2023, King Charlesâ former butler weighed in on why the reported rift between Harry and his "mates" occurred.Â
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Grant Harrold, who worked for the monarch for seven years when he was the Prince of Wales, claimed Harry axed friendships that he and Prince William once shared.
"I know quite a few of Harryâs friends who donât hear from him at allâŠ" Harrold said on behalf of Spin Genie, according to the New York Post.
Per the outlet, the Duke of Sussex missed longtime friend Jack Mannâs wedding, though Mann attended Prince Harry and Markle's wedding in 2018.
Harrold also said the same distance in Prince Harryâs friendships exists in his relationship with his brother, Prince William.Â
"They were both very sociable boys," Harrold said. "And thatâs whatâs so sad about it now, how theyâve gone from best of friends to nonexistent really. They have become so distant."
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He continued, "They were best friends, and they had the same friends, too. Youâd see them in the pubs together," Harrold added. "It was a great time for them."
Harry and Markle moved to the U.S. in 2020 after stepping back from their royal duties, but according to British royal expert Hilary Fordwich, the distance was already growing between Harry and his friends.
"One of the very first falling outs was when he introduced Meghan to his Eton [College] friends back in 2016 during a Sandringham country estate shooting party," according to Fordwich. "Ever since then, the friends have kept their distance, as has Harry."
The prestigious Eton College is "where the sons of elites are groomed for former national leadership. Indeed, 20 British prime ministers attended Eton," Fordwich explained at the time.Â
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Fox News Digital's Elizabeth Stanton, Stephanie Nolasco and Ashley Papa contributed to this report.
Stephanie Giang-Paunon is an Entertainment Writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to stephanie.giang@fox.com and on Twitter: @SGiangPaunon.