Prince Harry's painful regret over brother William's son Prince George

Aditi Rane & Hollie BealeFri, July 31, 2026 at 9:00 AM UTC

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Harry said he wanted to teach George rugby and cricket. -Credit:Getty

Prince Harry once envisioned teaching Prince George everything from rugby to cricket and guiding him through life as a royal, but many of those aspirations have now faded as the young prince matures.

The Duke of Sussex has been based in California since stepping away from royal responsibilities in 2020, which means he has been absent for much of Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis' formative years.

In his memoir Spare, Harry expressed genuine affection for becoming an uncle when Prince George arrived in 2013, sharing how thrilled he was at the prospect of playing a meaningful role in his nephew's upbringing.

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He called George his "beautiful" nephew and confessed he was eager to introduce him to some of his most cherished interests.

"I couldn't wait to teach him about rugby and Rorke's Drift, flying and corridor cricket - and maybe give him a few pointers about how to survive life in the fishbowl," Harry wrote, reports the Express.

Yet, many of those opportunities have now come and gone.

Prince George, who recently marked his 13th birthday, has already cultivated a passion for cricket. A birthday clip released this year captured the young royal skillfully batting on a beach during the Wales family's Easter break in Cornwall.

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The video indicated George has become a proficient player without requiring any guidance from his uncle.

A portrait released for Prince George to mark his 13th birthday

Harry's dreams of introducing George to rugby have similarly been eclipsed by circumstances. The future king has attended multiple rugby matches with the Prince and Princess of Wales and is believed to play the sport both at school and at home.

Earlier this year, the Princess of Wales joked about her eldest son's growing strength, saying: "I do not want to get tackled by him!".

In Spare, Harry also recalled looking forward to being a hands-on uncle while living at Nottingham Cottage, close to Prince William and Princess Catherine at Kensington Palace.

He wrote that he imagined regularly dropping by with "a bottle of wine and an armful of kiddie presents" before "dropping to the floor and wrestling with little George".

Though Harry may have experienced some of those moments before relocating overseas, the family's move to the United States has made frequent visits considerably more challenging.

Prince George with his father, Prince William who Harry is estranged from -Credit:Mike Egerton/PA Wire

The ongoing rift between Harry and Prince William has also sparked speculation that chances for the brothers' families to spend quality time together remain scarce.

While Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, recently met King Charles and Queen Camilla during a trip to the UK and are believed to have visited Princess Diana's family home, there was no sign they reconnected with William, Catherine or their children.

Meanwhile, Prince George is reported to have formed a strong bond with Mike Tindall, Zara Tindall's husband.

Body language expert Judi James previously claimed Mike has "more than filled" the "Harry-shaped gap" in George's life. In an interview with The Sun's Fabulous magazine, she commented: "Mike is the fun uncle everyone needs, but in the case of Prince George, whose destiny is all about duty and responsible behaviour, Mike's presence in his life is completely invaluable."

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”