Princess Diana would have liked the fact Meghan Markle “was able to offer Prince Harry an escape route,” her close friend has revealed.

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The Duchess of Sussex sadly never met her mother-in-law as Diana tragically died in a fatal car crash in Paris in August 1997. However, Richard Kay has spoken out about his friend and claimed she would have been impressed with Meghan’s “independence.”

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He also suggested the late Princess of Wales would have found Meghan “liberating.” Kay explained, “None of us really know… But I think there is something about Meghan that Diana would have found not just intriguing but slightly liberating.”

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Appearing on the latest episode of Palace Confidential, Kay added, “I think she would have liked Meghan’s independence and the fact that she was able to offer Harry an escape route, if you like, from royal duty.”

Princess Diana
Princess Diana sadly died in 1997(Image: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
Meghan Markle
She would have liked Meghan Markle(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
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While Diana would have been happy Harry has found Meghan, Kay suggested she would have been “disappointed” with how the relationship between Harry and his brother Prince William has worsened.

It’s believed Harry and William have not spoken in years, with tensions worsening following the release of Harry’s memoir, Spare. In the book, the Duke of Sussex opened up about an explosive row he had with William, during which the Prince of Wales allegedly called Meghan “difficult”, “rude” and “abrasive”.

Harry claimed his brother then “grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor.” Harry and Meghan also issued a number of bombshell claims against the royal family during their Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan.

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Kay said, “I think she would have admired Harry’s decision to settle in America. She wouldn’t have admired, however, the rift with William.”

He continued, “I think she would have been very disappointed by how things panned out, but I think initially she would have been very welcoming to (Meghan). That’s my view.”

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Kay’s comments come after a source suggested Harry has taken tentative steps in mending the relationship with his brother. The Duke of Sussex traveled to the U.K. to attend the two-day hearing over his reduced police protection while in the country. During the trip, Harry stayed at Coworth Park hotel, which is just a short drive from his brother’s home.

Coworth Park is also where William stayed with Harry the night before his wedding to Meghan Markle. A source has claimed the choice of hotel was “seen as a potential olive branch,” but it reportedly went ignored by the royal family.

“His accommodation decision, which was relayed to Wills and Kate through security services, was seen as a potential olive branch to make peace after so many years estranged,” the source explained.

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Speaking to The Express, the source suggested Harry is “keen to try to salvage some kind of relationship” and sit down and talk with his brother. They continued, “Some of us saw Harry being so close to his brother as a gesture of saying ‘Hey I am here, close by… what about us trying to work things out?'” The source suggested Harry wants to “make peace with his family” and get back to talking terms.

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