Inside the Secret Romance of Prince Harry and Caroline Flack

Prince Harry and Caroline Flack had a short-lived romance, yet it appears to have left a lasting impression on both the prince and the late Love Island U.K. host. In 2009, Harry was rumored to be involved with the TV presenter while he was still navigating his on-again, off-again relationship with Chelsy Davy.

In her 2014 book, Flack reminisced about meeting Prince Harry through her friend Natalie Pinkham. She was initially thrilled to meet him and spent the evening chatting and laughing with him and a few others. However, according to Harry's memoir, Spare, their relationship never progressed beyond casual encounters due to the media scrutiny in the U.K.

Flack passed away in her East London home in February 2020, over a decade after her relationship with Harry had ended. The coroner concluded that she had died by suicide, and Harry addressed her passing for the first time in his book released in January 2023. He expressed his profound sadness at her tragic death, attributing it to the relentless abuse she suffered at the hands of the media over the years. Harry also recalled how her family had been affected by the scrutiny of their relationship, and acknowledged the weight of guilt he felt in the aftermath of her death.

According to Flack's former publicist, Prince Harry's disclosure of private details about Caroline Flack in his book was deemed "absolutely gross". The press had previously spoken about her in a negative light and the reason for their split was also unfortunate. Bringing up old slurs that she had to endure in full view of the public around the world was seen as disgusting. While Caroline reacted to them with humor and grace, she was deeply hurt privately. This was just one of the many injustices she faced and Harry's decision to remind everyone of the terrible things said about her to sell his book was considered grotesque.

Following Flack's passing, her boyfriend Lewis Burton expressed his deep love and longing for her on Instagram, confessing that he never imagined a day where he wouldn't be able to see or speak to her again. He wakes up every day hoping to find her by his side or waiting for her call, but the reality of her absence is hard to grasp. Despite the pain, he remains grateful for the time they spent together and wishes to make her proud.

Harry tied the knot with Meghan in 2018, following a brief courtship of less than two years. The couple later welcomed their first child, Archie, in 2019, and their second child, Lilibet, in 2021. In case of emotional turmoil or suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

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Prince Harry and Caroline Flack's Relationship: What They Said About Each Other

Their relationship was short-lived, but it appeared to have made a lasting impression on both Prince Harry and Caroline Flack, the former host of Love Island U.K. In 2009, while he was still in an on-again, off-again relationship with Chelsy Davy, Harry was reportedly involved with the TV presenter.

Flack revealed in her 2014 book that she was initially intrigued by the fact that Natalie Pinkham was friends with Prince Harry, and when he arrived with a group of people, they spent the evening chatting and laughing. However, according to Harry's memoir, Spare, their relationship was never able to progress due to the intense media scrutiny they faced.

Flack's tragic death in February 2020, almost a decade after her relationship with Harry ended, was confirmed as suicide by the coroner four days later. In his book, which was released in January 2023, Harry spoke for the first time about her passing. He revealed that the constant negative attention from the press had taken its toll on Flack and that she was unable to cope any longer. He expressed his sympathy for her family and remembered the pain they endured due to their association with him.

According to Flack's former publicist, Prince Harry's decision to reveal private details about Caroline Flack in his book was "absolutely gross". Alex Mullen expressed that the way the press treated Flack at the time and the reason for their split were both sad. It was also deemed disgusting that Harry brought up old slurs that Flack had to endure in full view of the public. Despite Flack reacting to them with humor and grace, she was deeply hurt privately, which was just one of many injustices she didn't deserve. Mullen considered Harry's decision to remind everyone of the terrible things said about Flack to sell his book as grotesque.

Following Flack's passing, her boyfriend at the time, English tennis player Lewis Burton, expressed his love and longing for her on Instagram. In a post from March 2020, he wrote about the pain of not being able to see or speak to her again, and how he wakes up each day hoping she'll be next to him or call him. He expressed a deep sense of loss and gratitude for having met her, and a desire to make her proud.

Harry tied the knot with Meghan in 2018 after a short period of courtship. The couple then became proud parents to Archie in 2019 and Lilibet in 2021. If you or someone you know is struggling with emotional distress or suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

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When Did Prince Harry and Caroline Flack Date?

According to Harry's book, Flack was carefree and had a great sense of humor. They first met in 2009 and he described her as being light and funny. Harry fondly referred to her as "Flack" and met her at a restaurant with some friends months after he had broken up with his ex-girlfriend. Despite not recognizing her, Flack remained humble and didn't have a big ego, which Harry appreciated.

Flack shared her thoughts on Prince Harry in her 2014 book, Storm in a C Cup, highlighting that he has no choice but to live his life in the public eye. Unlike an egotistical rock star who craves attention, Harry handles his position well and along with his brother, Prince William, contributes greatly to their country. Personally, Flack expressed her admiration for Harry and considered him a friend, acknowledging the immense pressure he faces from the media. As such, she refrains from discussing him further to avoid adding to the intrusion he already experiences.

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Why Did Prince Harry and Caroline Flack Split?

Shortly after their first meeting, they went on a fun night out to enjoy dinner, games, and even attended a poker night hosted by a friend. However, the newfound attention from the media became apparent as photographers started lurking around Flack's parents' and friends' homes in hopes of capturing a glimpse of the couple.

Within moments of the paparazzi snapping photos of me and Flack, chaos ensued. A mob formed outside of her parents', grandparents', and friends' homes in a matter of hours. Despite continuing to see each other, the relationship was no longer free from the constant harassment and scrutiny. We held on, partly due to our genuine enjoyment of one another's company, but eventually, we came to the realization that the constant grief just wasn't worth it. It was a difficult goodbye, but one that we knew was necessary, especially for the sake of her family. We wished each other well and parted ways.

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What Has Caroline Flack Said About Prince Harry?

In her 2014 book, she revealed that their relationship had to end once the news got out. She lamented that she was no longer known as Caroline Flack, the TV presenter, but rather as Prince Harry's "bit of rough." The media portrayed her as a sex-crazed monster, and the worst part was that her brother had to read about it. They also belittled her career by referring to her as a common girl who had worked in a factory. The fact that she had once worked in an abattoir packing meat was used against her, as it was the only holiday job available in Watton. Harry shared his frustration about the UK press branding Flack as "rough" by questioning the country's snobbishness.

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What Did Prince Harry Say About Caroline Flack’s Death?

The prince drew a comparison between Flack's passing and his and Meghan's departure from the U.K. and royal duties, indirectly implying their shared significance. Meghan had previously opened up about her battle with depression before their move to the U.S. Reflecting on Flack's death in 2020, he acknowledged the impossibility of predicting such an outcome. He recognized the gravity of their situation and the urgency to address it before it was too late.

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Why Did Harry Bring Up Caroline Flack in Court?

Harry accused the Mirror Group Newspapers of phone-hacking in a 2023 lawsuit, citing his April 2009 outing with Flack as one of the many examples.

Harry recalled the People article and the accompanying images vividly. He was outraged that the two photographers from IKON Pictures were already present at the location where he and Flack were headed. The fact that they were hiding underneath a car only added to his shock. He mentioned in his statement that these photographers were known to him, as there had been several questionable incidents involving them in the past, some of which were hazardous. The prince and Flack had gone to a casual poker night at the apartment of his friend Mark Dyer.

Harry testified that he and his team were perplexed about how private meetings with individuals ended up in the media and how photographers would appear outside of a certain apartment. Upon reflection, he realized that the information may have been obtained from their voicemails, which included his, Marko's, and Caroline's. The consequences of these stories on his relationships were significant, leading to doubts even with those he trusted the most.