Prince Harry’s beloved bracelet – and heartbreaking reason he’s worn it for 20 years
Prince Harry has one accessory that he holds incredibly dear, and there is reported to be one particular reason that he has worn the bracelet for twenty years and it's heartbreaking
Prince Harry’s rarely seen without his bracelet (Image: Getty Images)
When Prince Harry and his now-wife Meghan Markle first started seeing each other they kept their new relationship pretty tightly under wraps, ensuring they had the space to get to know one another without the pressure of the public eye weighing upon them in the initial stages of their romance.
However, before too long, Meghan was spotted sporting one particular accessory that seemed pretty familiar to eagle-eyed royal fans – a bracelet made up of blue beads. Eagle-eyed observers compared images of the two bracelets, and how similar they are in appearance, speculating that it was confirmation of the pair’s relationship. While the similarity between the two accessories was uncanny, this is not the only bracelet that Harry has been regularly seen wearing. He also has an engraved silver bangle that he has worn for 20 years and has a very poignant meaning.
Whether Harry is stepping onto the polo field, wearing a smart suit at an official event, or even marrying the love of his life at a glitzy royal wedding – his bracelet has been with him every step of the way, and it is reported to be kept so close because of a really heartbreaking reason.
Business Insider claims that he got the elegant silver piece of jewellery shortly after the untimely and tragic death of his mother: Princess Diana. The outlet claims that he picked up the bracelet in Africa, more than 20 years ago in 1997 and it’s been a favourite accessory ever since.
Harry has had the bracelet reportedly for 20 years
Harry has worn the bracelet on many occasions ( Image: WireImage)
Harry himself has confirmed that he and his elder brother Prince William went to Africa shortly after their mother’s death where their father King Charles hoped to give them time and space to grieve away from the bright spotlight that was trained on them throughout their childhoods. This only intensified after their mother died in a car accident in Paris – and shockwaves of public mourning were felt across the UK.
“I first came [to Africa] in 1997, straight after my mum died. My dad told my brother and me to pack our bags — we were going to Africa to get away from it all,” he said in an interview. In his memoir Spare, Harry detailed how free he felt in Botswana, where he spent a lot of time over the years with his friends Mike and Teej, and adopted the nickname Spike – in honour of a dubious haircut in his younger years – and the ability to get away from his royal status. Botswana was also the location of one of Meghan and Harry’s first trips together, in the early days of their courtship.
