Sad new reports have revealed that Prince Harry “would be completely left out” by other royals when he was a child, as he was regularly cast aside for his older brother Prince William.

Fox News reported that author Ingrid Seward, who has been covering the royals since the 1980s, said that Princess Diana was the only royal who was determined that Harry would not feel as if he was second best.

“The Queen Mother used to say, ‘Come on William, come and sit next to me,’” Seward said. “And little Harry would be completely left out.”

“Harry has always known he was number two,” she added. “And obviously Diana was very anxious that he shouldn’t feel that.”

As heir to the throne, there was no doubt in everyone’s mind that William took precedence, and Harry was very aware of this.

“Other members of the royal family were very conscious he was number two,” Seward explained.

Diana’s Relationship With Her Sons

Though Diana’s marriage to Prince Charles was infamously troubled, she drew strength and happiness from the bond that she shared with her two sons. Her biographer Andrew Morton said that it was William and Harry who Diana relied on when her marriage finally ended.

“As the boys got older and became like her counselors and friends as sons, she began to enjoy life a lot more,” Morton said. “Diana was very protective of William and Harry. [If] you ever criticized the boys… she would be on you like a tigress. She was the only one who could criticize those two. Of course, she indulged them.”

“She wanted to be a full hands-on parent herself,” Morton added. “And interestingly, Prince William recently said the same about his own children. He wants them to enjoy a relatively normal upbringing.”

While Harry had some difficult moments growing up in William’s shadow, he was lucky to have a mother like Diana who ensured that he would never really be second best. We can’t wait to see how Harry is as a father himself in the coming years!

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