A DECADE ago, Charles, Camilla and Prince William joined the Duke of Sussex at the first Invictus Games in London.
However, 10 years later, the scenario was quite different, as all three were noticeably absent when Prince Harry returned to the UK to mark the tenth anniversary of his death. the Invictus Games.
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But while King Charles hosted the first party of the year in the garden of Buckingham Palace, just two miles away, there was one family member who remained firmly by his side – his uncle, Charles Spencer.
The Duke of Sussex was spotted hugging his late mother’s brother and sister, Earl Spencer, 59, and Lady Jane Fellowes, 67, outside St Paul’s Cathedral before the hour-long church service.
Harry was reportedly looking forward to meeting his father on a three-day visit to the UK, however, on Tuesday his office said it would not be possible due to the king’s busy schedule.
But as relations between King Charles and Prince Harry appear to remain tense, historian Tessa Dunlop claims that the Duke of Sussex has always remained close to his uncle, Earl Spencer, along with the late Princess Diana’s other siblings: Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale.
“He clearly has a very good relationship with Charles Spencer, Jane and Sarah on his mother’s side,” she said, speaking to OK! magazine.
“That side of the family seems to have better relationships.”
Prince Harry’s full statement
A spokesperson for Prince Harry said: “In response to the many questions and ongoing speculation about whether or not the Duke will meet his father whilst in the UK this week:
“Unfortunately this will not be possible due to Her Majesty’s full programme.
“The Duke, of course, understands his father’s schedule and various other priorities and looks forward to seeing him soon.”
Tessa went on to criticize the view that Harry has no family, insisting: “While all the focus is on Harry and Meghan having no family or relatives, he clearly has relationships with the Spencers.”
She then referenced Harry’s bombshell memoir Spare, where he talked about his two aunts and uncle being there when he and Meghan visited Diana’s grave.
PRINCESS DIANA’S FUNERAL
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The close bond between Prince Harry and Earl Spencer was evident at Princess Diana’s funeral in September 1997, when Charles walked alongside his young nephews behind his sister’s coffin.
He raised concerns at the time about the then young royals walking in the funeral procession, and later went on to describe it as “the most horrible half hour of my life”.
In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he revealed that he still had nightmares arising from the “harrowing” experience twenty years after the sad occasion.
However, he noted that it must be “a million times worse” for Prince Harry and William.
TOUCHING EULOGY
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In a moving eulogy, Charles publicly promised to protect his nephews.]
He said: “I promise that we, your blood family, will do everything we can to continue the imaginative and loving way in which you have led these two exceptional young men, so that their souls are not simply immersed in duty and tradition, but May you sing openly as you planned.”
He continued: “We fully respect the heritage they were both born into and will always respect and encourage them in their royal role.
Your Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Questions Have Been Answered
“But we, like you, recognize the need for them to experience as many different aspects of life as possible to arm them spiritually and emotionally for the years ahead. I know you wouldn’t expect anything less from us.”
PUBLIC SUPPORT
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Although Earl Spencer is not often seen in public with his nephews, he has been there to support them during several events – notably involving those to commemorate his late sister.
In 2006, Charles joined Prince Harry and William during the unveiling of a memorial fountain dedicated to Diana in London’s Hyde Park.
Although all the focus is on the fact that Harry and Meghan have no family or relatives, he clearly has relations with the Spencers
Tessa Dunlop
Then, in 2021, they were all seen together in public as they unveiled a new statue of the princess in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, on what would have been her 60th birthday.
Earl Spencer also attended Kate Middleton and Prince William’s wedding in April 2011, and was seen again when Harry and Meghan Markle married in 2018.
THERAPY TREATMENT
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Earl Spencer recently revealed how he underwent the same trauma therapy as Prince Harry.
In his memoir, A Very Private School, Charles explained how he was treated for the physical, sexual and emotional abuse he suffered while at Maidwell Hall boarding school in Northamptonshire between 1972 and 1977.
“I have EMDR, which is a form of therapy for PTSD,” he said.
WHAT IS EMDR?
By Terri-Ann Williams
The British Association for Counseling and Psychotherapy (BACP) says that EMDR therapy can help you process experiences that impact your mental health and well-being.
Dr. Justin Havens said it involves the use of lateral eye movements combined with psychotherapy in a specific, structured format.
It can help process negative images or emotions that a person associates with a certain memory.
Therapy can help you see things from a different perspective and also help alleviate your symptoms.
It can help with conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, addictions, behavioral difficulties, relationship problems and more serious mental illnesses such as psychosis and personality disorders.
Dr Havens said: “Many of these problems may actually be rooted in some type of trauma, whether that be someone being bullied, criticized or abused in some way, whether during childhood or as an adult, and it is not always obvious that this is The case.”
It comes after Prince Harry revealed in 2001 that he had used the same form of PTSD treatment.
Speaking on an episode of his AppleTV series The Me You Can’t See, he noted how he was using EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) for four or five memories that he still considered disturbing from his childhood.
Alongside his therapist Sanja Oakley, he explained: “EMDR is always something I wanted to try and this was one of the variety of different forms of healing or healing that I was willing to try.
“I never would have been open to this if I hadn’t worked and done the therapy I’ve done over the years.”
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
