Katie Price Opens Up About Raising Harvey Alone as Estranged Father Dwight Yorke Remains Absent
Katie Price has always been an outspoken and devoted mother to her eldest son, Harvey, who has complex medical needs requiring around-the-clock care. Over the years, her bond with Harvey has only grown stronger, enduring family dramas, public adoption debates, and an ongoing estrangement from Harvey’s biological father, former footballer Dwight Yorke.
Katie has been candid about the challenges of raising Harvey, who has Septo-optic Dysplasia, autism, and Prader-Willi syndrome. Yet little is known about Harvey’s relationship with Yorke, who initially denied paternity and only acknowledged Harvey after a DNA test. Their strained relationship flared up again when Katie’s ex-husband, Peter Andre, expressed interest in adopting Harvey, which infuriated Yorke, reported by the Daily Record.
Katie and Yorke’s brief romance in 2001 ended amidst allegations of infidelity. Yorke later admitted he “wasn’t the perfect partner,” but he initially tried to show paternal responsibility by visiting Harvey in the hospital and signing his birth certificate. However, his involvement in Harvey’s life faded quickly, with Yorke citing his demanding football schedule and later describing his regret for his lack of involvement.
In his 2009 book, Born to Score, Yorke claimed he had always loved Harvey, saying, “I am not going to hear anymore that I did not care for Harvey.” However, Katie’s accounts suggest otherwise. She recalls Yorke’s last meeting with Harvey, around eight years ago, where he seemed unable to accept Harvey’s special needs and was critical of his condition. In her 2014 autobiography, Katie shared, “I’ve explained Harvey’s condition to Dwight many times, but he refused to understand… He just wasn’t willing to work within Harvey’s limitations.”
Despite this, Katie has kept the door open for Yorke to reconnect with Harvey. In 2019, she made a public plea, sharing a video of Harvey expressing his love for his father. “Anyone who knows @Officialdwightyorke19 please get him to contact his son. Harvey doesn’t deserve this,” she wrote, frustrated by Yorke’s absence from Harvey’s life.
In recent years, Katie even entertained plans to visit Yorke’s home with Harvey to rekindle their connection. But in 2021, she revealed that Yorke’s disinterest remained. “I wanted Harvey to have his dad in his life, but he just wasn’t interested,” she wrote, describing their last interaction in 2012.
Although Yorke himself remains absent, his agent occasionally reaches out to Harvey’s maternal grandmother, Amy Price, to inquire about his wellbeing. Amy, however, insists that Yorke should take responsibility himself, remarking, “It’s about time he took some responsibility.”
Katie’s resilience in raising Harvey and her continued hope for reconciliation between her son and Yorke illustrate her dedication to Harvey’s happiness, despite the many challenges she’s faced.