Prince Harry’s former friends have expressed their disappointment with the Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle over their public criticisms of the Royal Family. Since stepping down from their royal duties in 2020, the couple has made several statements against the monarchy through interviews, a Netflix series, and Harry’s autobiography Spare.

Ahead of Prince Harry’s upcoming 40th birthday, The Times interviewed several of his former close friends. One friend criticized Harry’s actions, stating, “I can’t believe he’d stoop so low. Oprah, Netflix, and then the book? Three strikes and you’re out.” Another remarked on Harry’s apparent frustration with his current situation, suggesting that he longs to be admired as he was in the UK.

A mutual friend of both Prince Harry and Prince William also commented on the situation, noting that the couple could have left the Royal Family with “dignity and decency” rather than by “trashing the institution.” The friend added that the conclusion is that Harry and Meghan have profited from criticizing his family.

These revelations come as Prince Harry’s relationship with the Royal Family remains strained, with limited contact between him and his father, King Charles, and no communication with his brother, Prince William, and sister-in-law, Kate Middleton.