Prince Harry accused of Losing Purpose after Leaving Army and Royal Duties

Prince Harry is facing harsh criticism for allegedly becoming self-centered and directionless since stepping back from royal duties, despite his once-promising military career and global philanthropic work.

In a scathing column for The Sun, assistant editor Clemmie Moodie accused the Duke of Sussex of losing his way after leaving the British Army, where he served for a decade, including two tours of Afghanistan. “Since leaving the Army, something he was genuinely passionate about and, by all accounts, brilliant at, Harry has lost his identity,” Moodie wrote.

She went on to argue that, like many former soldiers, the prince has struggled to find a sense of purpose outside the structured and meaningful world of military service. “Like many ex-military men, he has lost his sense of purpose: one he so evidently hoped to find as one half of the world’s hottest, most powerful power couple.”

Although Harry founded the Invictus Games in 2014—an international sporting event for wounded and sick service personnel, both veterans and active duty—Moodie implied that his post-royal projects haven’t filled the same role in his life. Referencing his explosive 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey and other ventures, she argued that “[none of this] can replace the camaraderie and raison d’etre of serving your country.”

In her bluntest criticism yet, Moodie declared, “Harry’s only purpose now is serving himself.” Harry, 40, has increasingly been labeled as Meghan Markle’s “spare,” a nod to his role as the second-born royal child and a reference to his controversial memoir Spare. Moodie continued her critique by contrasting the couple’s current trajectories: “While Meghan Markle is beginning to find her groove as the planet’s first ex-royal influencer, Harry appears to have no discernible talent.”

The Duke of Sussex also drew backlash in early 2023 for revealing in his memoir that he killed 25 Taliban fighters during his deployment. He described the militants as “chess pieces removed from the board,” a remark that many, including military veterans, found deeply troubling.

One of his peers from Sandhurst, Levison Wood, who counts Harry as a friend, spoke out at the time. “I personally wouldn’t have done that,” Wood told The Times, referring to the way Harry disclosed his combat experience.

As public perception shifts, criticism of Prince Harry’s post-royal choices continues to mount, with some questioning whether he can ever reclaim a sense of purpose beyond controversy.

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