A royal expert says that Harry feels like “every success is another kind of failure” without his family’s approval.

Prince Harry has plenty to be happy about—like his sunny life in California, his two kids, and not being shackled by the rules and regulations of the British monarchy, just to name a few—but sources close to the royals say that there’s a permanent scowl on his face.

Why? Even now, he’s seeking the approval of his family and he’s not getting it, no matter how hard he seems to be trying.

Tom Quinn, royal expert and author of Gilded Youth: A History of Growing Up in the Royal Family: From the Tudors to the Cambridges, told the Mirror, “Harry and Meghan see their recent trip to Nigeria as a huge success, but for Harry, every success is another kind of failure while his family refuse to acknowledge his efforts and steadfastly refuse to apologize for everything that had happened in the past. In Nigeria and even with Meghan at his side and regularly holding his hand, he still has a permanent look of bitterness on his face.”

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The general public may have seen Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s recent tour of Nigeria as a success, but experts add that the royal family saw it as a “faux royal tour” and even go as far as saying that some members of the Firm fear that the Sussexes could become the face of the British monarchy and that the rift between Harry and Meghan and the other royals, Prince William and Kate Middleton included, could be growing.

Lynn Carratt explained, “These faux royal tours could deepen their rift with the royal family, if not handled correctly. Their Nigerian tour bared all that hallmarks of a Royal Tour which was said to [have] infuriated the palace.”

“I don’t believe the Nigerian tour helped to increase their popularity in the U.K. and USA,” Carratt added. “But it did showcase to the African nations the work that [the] couple can do and will certainly have increased their popularity there.”
During his time in Nigeria, Harry noted that the tour was “the first of many trips” and sources added that the Sussexes could have a trip to Ghana on the books soon.

“There is already a lot of talk and excitement in Ghana, everyone is so keen for Harry and Meghan to come and experience the great culture and warmth,” a source shared with the Mirror.

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While some may be pointing out Harry’s sour expression, there were plenty of smiles while he was in Africa with Meghan. During their tour, the two visited multiple communities and attended cultural events—some even gave the prince “goosebumps.”