Prince Harry is "still pinching himself" after leaving "that world behind" but also "acknowledges the regrets" amid the ongoing rift between, his father King Charles and brother Prince William.
Since stepping away from his role as a working royal in 2020, The Duke of Sussex has created a new wife in California with his wife Meghan Markle and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
The Sussex family have been noticeably distant from the UK and the Royal Family, particularly in the last year as they focus on their own projects and life in the US.
With this, tensions have grown between Harry and his father along with his older brother after his explosive memoir Spare was released in January this year, with no visible signs of the family patching things up anytime soon.
Following Harry's big move and stepping away from the monarchy, royal expert Jennie Bond spoke exclusively to OK! and said "he is still pinching himself to make certain that he really has left that world behind".
Explaining further the journalist and TV presenter said: "He has broken free of the life, the royal straitjacket, that had ground him down in recent years; he has a stunning wife he adores, two children on whom he dotes and a life of luxury away from castles and courtiers.
"I imagine that he is still pinching himself to make certain that he really has left that world behind."
Amid the ongoing family rift, Jennie added: "But I think he will also acknowledge the regrets he must have about remaining so bitterly estranged from his father and brother.
"Remember that what he and Meghan really wanted was to be half in and half out of official royal life. But the late Queen vetoed that idea and the result is the seemingly unbridgeable rift we now see."
It comes after Harry is due to celebrate his 39th birthday on September 15 which could come with a moment of reflection as Jennie added: "Birthdays can often be a time to take stock of your life.
"I think that if Harry does so, as he enters his fortieth year, he will probably be quite pleased with what he has achieved."
Talking about Harry's life in the US away from his UK family, the royal expert added: "Harry is on record as saying that he now regards the United States as home.
"I’m sure he must miss many of his friends here. Loyalties have become divided and people have sided either with William or Harry.
"Obviously, he doesn’t see his old friends any more living, as he does, thousands of miles away. But Harry is not heartless, far from it.
"He has written about how he looks back with nostalgia at the time when his family was united and happy".
Jennie continued: "So he does care about his UK family and I’m sure he would like his children [Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet] to hang out with their little cousins and to better understand their heritage.
"But I don’t think the two families will reunite simply for the sake of the children. The adults have to make peace before that can happen, and there is no sign of that happening any time soon."
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