Prince Harry ‘Leaned On’ Princess Diana’s Brother ‘a Lot’ Amid Royal Rift: He’s ‘Like a Second Father’

Prince Harry thinks the world of his uncle Charles Spencer, a source tells Examiner.

“He’s almost like a second father to him, so naturally Harry has leaned on him a lot these past six years,” reveals the source. “He goes to him for advice about everything, especially his strained relationship with his family.”

Buckingham Palace rescinded its offer of royal accommodations for Harry, 41, during his recent trip to the U.K., whereas the Earl Spencer, 61, welcomed him and his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, to Princess Diana‘s childhood home.

“Staying with him at Althorp with Meghan and the kids was a beautiful experience,” shares the source. “He really rolled out the red carpet for them, and it only strengthened that bond.”

Despite his rift with the royals, Harry has remained very close with Diana’s side of the family in the years following her 1997 death. Just last May, The Mail on Sunday reported that he even asked Charles about changing his last name to Spencer.

During his recent visit, “they spoke a lot about how Harry can navigate this next chapter because his uncle really feels there’s still a big place for him within the royal world,” says the source. “In many ways, [Charles is] living proof of that himself. He may be on the fringes of the monarchy, but he still has enormous social standing and ties to that world.”

It’s “essentially the type of situation Harry and Meghan are trying to work towards,” the source notes. “Harry may not be front and center at every banquet or shooting weekend, but he’s still fifth in line to the throne and the son of the Queen of Hearts.”

Adds the source: “Nobody can take that birthright away from him.”