Like Edward VIII, "miserable" Prince Harry has "seemed to radiate sadness" since leaving the Royal Family with Meghan Markle, according to a royal biographer.
King Edward VIII abdicated the throne on December 10, 1936, to marry the American socialite Wallis Simpson, leaving the Royal Family and relocating to France.
So, Harry's great-granduncle had also left the royal life behind, and Hugo Vickers thinks the 38-year-old and the former King "seemed to radiate sadness" after the decision.
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Mr Vickers claims he had "never seen anyone with such sad eyes" as the former monarch, despite Edward always saying he had no regrets over his decision.
"I think the reason the Queen always had such sparkling eyes was because she dedicated herself to duty," Mr Vickers said during a speech at the Henley Literary Festival, The Times reported.
Edward VIII "took the path of perceived happiness" by marrying Ms Simpson, Vickers said.
"In the end it's duty that makes you happy," he added.
"If you woke him up at 4am and asked if he had any regrets he would have said no. But if you want to know what he really thought, look at his eyes," the author said.
Like his older relative, Prince Harry looks "thoroughly miserable".
The then-Prince Edward first met Wallis Simpson – an American socialite and already a one-time divorcée – at a party in 1931, when she was still married to her husband Ernest at the time.
Similarly, when Harry met Meghan in 2016, the American was famous for her portrayal of Rachel Zane in hit US TV series Suits and was also herself a divorcée.
Back in the 30s, Wallis quickly earned the attention and affection of the Prince of Wales, with family members starting to suspect an affair.
Although Edward denied the relationship to his father King George V, he still insisted on inviting her to the Jubilee Ball at Buckingham Palace and Ascot in 1934.
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On January 20, King George V died and King Edward VIII was crowned, calling Wallis soon after to let her know the news.
Nine months later on October 27, 1936, Wallis filed for divorce from her husband Ernest Simpson.
Twenty days later on November 16, now-King Edward invited the Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin to Buckingham Palace and told him he planned to marry Wallis and was subsequently prepared to abdicate the throne.
He later told his mother Queen Mary, who insisted he give up his beloved, but Edward declared his love for Wallis.
Royal expert Gertrude Daly previously told the Daily Star that she believed this declaration of love would have been a powerful motivator for the Sussexes.
She said: "The Sussexes, in part, made their decision to step down to protect each other and their children from the toxicity of Royal life. And if King Edward could do it for love, why not them too?"
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