Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy: This is the real reason why the couple split after 6 years

Prince Harry has never been allowed to be a private person. Each of his relationships has been under scrutiny, from a very early age, and he has now chosen to tell his side of the story. Whether it is in a six-part Netflix documentary about his relationship with Meghan Markle, or in a fastest-selling non-fiction book of all time, Prince Harry gives his fans an exclusive look behind closed doors.

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The Prince is currently suing the Daily Mail publisher, Associated Newspaper, for allegedly tapping his phone and recording his conversations, which would constitute a privacy breach. He is not the only one suing the publisher, as Elton John made a surprise appearance in preliminary hearings on behalf of himself and his husband, David Furnish.

Prince Harry's relationship with Chelsy Davy came up during trial

In recent days, Prince Harry's statements in London's High Court have been made public. And it is safe to say most people did not expect Chelsy Davy's name to come up during this trial. In fact, according to the BBC, Prince Harry blamed the British tabloids for his break-up with the Zimbabwean businesswoman, saying she felt like she could not spend her whole life under the public eye.

The duke blames newspapers’ alleged activities for “huge bouts of depression and paranoia” resulting in the breakdown of his relationship with Chelsy Davy, 37. The alleged media intrusion “led Ms Davy to make the decision that ‘a royal life was not for her’, he claims pic.twitter.com/1B3K9bX69H
— The Times and The Sunday Times (@thetimes) June 5, 2023

Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy dated on-and-off for about 6 years in the early 2000s, before splitting up in 2010. The Duke of Sussex talks very highly of his ex-girlfriend in his best-selling memoir Spare.

Unlike so many people I knew, she seemed wholly unconcerned with appearances, with propriety, with royalty. Unlike so many girls I met, she wasn’t visibly fitting herself for a crown the moment she shook my hand.

Why did Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy break up?

Although Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy were very private during their time together and throughout their break-up, they have since opened up about the nature of their relationship, and the possible reasons for their split.

According to Marie Claire, both Harry and Chelsy have said they broke up due to a several lack of privacy. Ms Davy claims she did not want to live her life under the public eye, with her every move observed and analyzed, and Prince Harry was obviously unable to avoid it.

Chelsy Davy is rumoured to have been followed several times, and to have had a tracking device implanted in her car at least once. In a 2016 interview with The Times, Ms Davy recalls how scared she was during their relationship.

It was so full-on: crazy and scary and uncomfortable. I found it very difficult when it was bad. I couldn’t cope. I was young, I was trying to be a normal kid and it was horrible. It was nuts. That’s also why I wanted to go back to Africa. Now it’s calm, now it’s fine.

In his memoir Spare, the Duke of Sussex explains that he understands why Ms Davy chose her freedom over a Royal life, and he would have done the same.

I completely understood her desire for freedom. If I had a choice, I wouldn’t want this life either. I would miss her very much, but I understood she put her freedom first.

The pair seems to have a solid friendship now, after several years of processing their difficult break-up. Chelsy Davy even attended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018.

Sources used:

BBC: Harry blames press intrusion for Chelsy break-up

MarieClaire: Why did Prince Harry and Chelsea Davy break up?

The Times: Chelsy Davy: ‘It was full-on — crazy and scary and uncomfortable’