Prince Harry dated Cressida Bonas years before he met and married Meghan Markle. According to an author, some incidents prompted the English actress and model to question her relationship with the royal prince.
Prince Harry Had Blowouts With Paparazzi And A Royal Fan While Dating Cressida Bonas, Author Claims
Journalist Tina Brown and author of The Palace Papers, shared some blowouts involving Prince Harry, a paparazzi and a royal fan while he was dating Bonas. Those encounters reportedly made the latter think twice about her relationship with Prince William's brother.
"[Bonas] knew the relationship wouldn't last when there was a blow-up on Valentine's Day. En route to the restaurant, they were driving down Kensington High Street when Harry got word that there was a photographer lying in wait. He slammed on the brakes, did a spin turn in the middle of the street and gunned it back to Nott Cott for a Valentine's night of pizza," Brown wrote in her book, Showbiz CheatSheet reported.
Prince Harry has been open about his distaste for the press. So, it wasn't surprising for Bonas when her then-boyfriend opted to avoid the paparazzi. However, their encounter with a royal fan around Christmas time reportedly gave her "serious qualms" about their relationship.
"At Christmas, more unnecessary drama," Brown claimed in her book, Express reported.
Bona and the Duke of Sussex were reportedly having lunch at a local pub in Kidlington, outside Oxford. They reserved a table in the back, away from other patrons. However, some still recognized them, and a royal fan approached Prince Harry for a photo.
“As they were leaving, this quite elderly, sweet-looking gentleman came out and said: ‘Oh, sir, so sorry, I know it’s Christmastime, but could I just take a photograph to give to my wife who isn’t well?’ And so 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,” Brown added.
Prince Harry's Behavior Reportedly Gave Cressida Bonas' Serious Qualms'
After witnessing Prince Harry's behavior, Bonas reportedly questioned their relationship. She had already found Harry's world overwhelming. Also, the media coverage during Prince William and Kate Middleton's first tour overseas with their oldest son, Prince George, reportedly served as an eye-opener for her.
Bonas "found it unimaginable to drag a future baby of her own off on a hectic royal tour … especially with Harry's explosive temperament," Brown wrote.
In 2014, Bonas and Prince Harry called it quits. However, it was reportedly here who urged the royal to seek help for his mental health after witnessing his outbursts.
"His outbursts were ever more frequent and childlike," Brown wrote, per Town & Country. "He took up boxing because, as he later said, he was always 'on the verge of punching somebody.' Cressida began to have serious worries about his mental health. It is not widely known that it was she who first persuaded Harry to see a therapist."
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An unnamed family friend told Brown that he "got him to accept he had problems, and see a psychoanalyst."
When they parted ways, Meghan Markle's husband reportedly wrote a letter to Bonas thanking her for persuading him to get therapy. A friend told the author that it was a "sweet letter" with Prince Harry wishing her the best and thanking her for "helping me to address my demons and seek help."
Prince Harry and Bonas parted ways because she wanted to focus on her acting career. There were also speculations that the media scrutiny was another factor in their split, BBC reported.
Bonas attended Prince Harry and Markle's wedding. She is now married to Harry Wentworth-Stanley. They tied the knot in July 2020.
Stay tuned for more news and updates about Prince Harry.
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