Former rugby player James Haskell, who is long-time best friends with Prince Harry, has branded the British royal family as “very dysfunctional”, adding that some members are “not as great as others”.
Mr Haskell spoke in an interview about his bond with Harry and his family the Times of London and said he has spent a lot of time with them over the years.
“They do a great job, but they are also a modern family that is very dysfunctional,” Haskell said.
He said he was present when Harry married Meghan Markle, adding that he was even part of “Mike and Zara’s wedding.”
Despite criticizing some of them, the 39-year-old defended the monarchy and said they “play an important role”.
“To those who want to get rid of the monarchy: once they’re gone, they’re gone. There is no going back from that, so remember that they have an important role. I love what they do,” he added.
Things have not been well between the royal family and Prince Harry and Meghan in recent years, especially after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved away from the family. Things didn’t get better after Harry opened up in his memoirs about his problems with his father and brother: Save.
Previously, a source close to the family told People magazine that the rift between Prince Harry and his brother Prince William was “very serious” but not “irreparable.”
Harry visited his home country last month, but did not see his father and brother during the trip.
Meanwhile, Haskell continues to share a special bond with the royal family as he presents the podcast ‘The Good, the Bad & the Rugby’, alongside Alex Payne and Mike Tindall, who is married to Zara Phillips, daughter of Princess Anne.
The Tindalls are said to have close ties to both Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton and Harry’s family.