Since releasing the explosive trailer for their Netflix documentary all focus has been on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Now Catherine Ommanney, who claimed she dated Harry in 2006, has said that Harry is now "finally free" and that he has always dreamt of a "normal life".
Catherine told OK! that she was proud Harry has left the Royal family and moved to the USA. She said: "Meghan and Harry look very happy together and I wish them all the best. I am so proud that Harry had the courage to move to the States and I think he really needed to do that – to finally be free.”
She then jokingly added: “I have nothing but respect for Meghan, and the fact that Harry is with her shows that he does have more than one type after all – he is clearly not only interested in blondes!”
Catherine, who dated the prince when he was just 21, explained how Harry has always dreamed of being “normal” and felt suffocated by royal life. She said: “I did feel sorry for Harry and how little freedom he had to be himself. He seemed a little lost and I think that was because he was surrounded by so many hangers-on who didn’t have his best interests at heart."
“I could see there was little upside to his position beyond the obvious privileges and the three bodyguards that shadowed him didn’t seem to allow for much privacy. I remember saying to him, ‘I imagine your life must be genuinely hard, being in such a goldfish bowl.’ He replied: ‘It definitely has its moments.’"
She has revealed that Harry said he would have loved to have swapped his life for a "normal life". Catherine said: “I also asked Harry, ‘Would you like to swap your life with somebody else’s life?’ He said, ‘Yes, often. I would love to lead a normal life.’"
Speaking about dating Prince Harry, who was 13 years younger than her, Catherine explained their relationship. She said: "We had a kiss and Harry was very complimentary and attentive, telling me how beautiful I was. I think the biggest compliment he paid me was when he said that I made him ‘feel normal’.”
“I got the impression his security was against our relationship from the start. They were no doubt trying to protect him from running off with a 34-year-old mother-of-two. And I am convinced they had a big part to play in it ending when it did. I genuinely hope that Harry has more freedom now, as I think it was something he was clearly craving. And I hope he’s happy with Meghan. I only wish him the best.”
The six-part documentary , Harry & Meghan, will first air on Thursday, December 8 with a second instalment released a week later on Thursday, December 15. The docu-series will explore "the clandestine days of their early courtship and the challenges that led to them feeling forced to step back from their full-time roles in the institution."
The first three will drop in volume one and the fourth, fifth and sixth episodes will be available when volume two drops next week. The trailers for the documentary, named Harry & Meghan. A Netflix Global Event shows scenes of Meghan crying and Harry explaining why he wanted to make the documentary.
He said: "No one sees what's happening behind closed doors." The trailer ends with Harry speaking to the camera as he says: "No one knows the full truth. We know the full truth."
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