Prince Harry says his ex Chelsy Davy was ‘unlike so many girls he met’

Prince Harry has revealed that his ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy was “unlike so many girls he’s met” because she didn’t have “throne syndrome” and was “not visibly ready for a crown the moment she shook hands with him.”

In his explosive memoir Spare, which hit stores today, the Duke of Sussex, 38, described the moment he met Chelsy in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2004, after first meeting ‘years before’ at the Berkshire Polo Club.

“She was…different,” the royal said. ‘That was the word that came to mind when I first met her, and it immediately came to mind now, and then again and again during the barbecue.

He continued: ‘…Unlike so many people I knew, she seemed totally unconcerned with appearances, with decorum, with royalty.

‘Unlike many girls I’ve met, she wasn’t visibly adjusting herself for a crown at the time she shook my hand. She seemed immune to that common affliction sometimes called throne syndrome.

Former City lawyer Chelsy, 37, who is married to successful hotelier Sam Cutmore-Scott, dated Harry on and off for six years starting in 2004.

In his book, Harry recalled how Chelsy seemed “bored” by her title and knew “less than nothing” about her family.

Harry had told friends before they broke up in 2011 that she was “the best thing that ever happened to me”.

In his Spare memoir bombshell, which hit stores today, the Duke of Sussex, 38, described the moment he met Chelsy (pictured together in 2007) in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2004, after first meeting ‘years before’ at berkshire polo club

They had met in England when they were both at school, but got together in 2004, during Harry’s gap year in Zimbabwe, where Chelsy’s millionaire father owns and runs a game reserve.

He became so serious that the palace officials commented that he had started calling her ‘wife’ and she in turn called him ‘husband’.

It was clearly serious when Chelsy not only attended Harry’s cousin Peter Phillips’ wedding to Autumn Kelly, where she was introduced to the Queen, but was also invited to Prince Charles’ 60th birthday celebrations.

But the pressures of their conflicting careers and long periods apart while Harry served in Afghanistan took their toll.

Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare (pictured), was published in the UK today

They split in 2011 and Chelsy, who was born in Zimbabwe and now runs a luxury travel and jewelry business, has largely remained out of the spotlight in the 12 years since.

Elsewhere in his memoir, Harry has claimed that Prince William “cringed” from Meghan Markle’s embrace during their awkward first meeting.

He described the moment he introduced his brother, 40, to his girlfriend, 41, as a “classic culture clash.”

The meeting took place in late 2016 at the Prince and Princess of Wales’ Kensington Palace apartment, shortly before Prince Harry and Prince William went hunting.

The Duke explains how Meghan had already met Princess Eugenie, her then boyfriend Jack Brooksbank, the Duchess of York, Prince Andrew and the Queen.

Chelsy, who was born in Zimbabwe and now runs a luxury travel and jewelery business, has largely remained out of the spotlight in the 12 years since she split from Prince Harry (pictured together in 2006).

Describing the short walk from Harry and Meghan’s home, Nottingham Cottage, to apartment 1A, the duke admitted he was more nervous about his girlfriend meeting William than anyone else.

When his brother answered the door, Harry says William was “a bit fancy” in smart trousers and a shirt.

He wrote: ‘I introduced him to Meg, who leaned in and gave him a hug, which completely freaked him out. He backed off.

Giving some context to the awkward encounter, Prince Harry said his brother wouldn’t normally hug someone he doesn’t know.

In contrast, Harry explained that this was just Meghan’s way of greeting strangers.

He continued: ‘Maybe Willy expected Meg to curtsy? It would have been protocol when meeting a member of the Royal Family for the first time, but she didn’t know and I didn’t tell her.

After “exchanging a few warm words” at the entrance, the Prince of Wales invited the couple into the apartment, prompting Kate and William’s black cocker spaniel, Lupo, to begin barking.

When the couple asked about Kate, William told them that she was out with their children George and Charlotte.

After the brief reunion, Meghan again spent her first night alone at Nottingham Cottage as the brothers embarked on their shooting trip.

Read more: