In a tale filled with love, drama, and tragedy, the lives of Prince Harry and Prince William are entwined with a set of three brothers – the Van Straubenze boys.
These brothers were not only classmates of the young princes at Lovegrove School but have also remained close friends throughout their adult years.
Henry, Thomas, and Charlie play significant roles in Harry’s highly anticipated autobiography, revealing a deep connection between them.
Originally hailing from the Netherlands, the Van Straubenze family belongs to the landed gentry of Spenethorn, North Yorkshire, and has a proud military tradition.
One of the most shocking revelations from Harry’s memoir, titled “Spare,” is his claim that he was not William’s best man at his wedding.
Instead, one of the four Van Straubenze brothers took on this role.
Furthermore, another brother secretly served as one of Harry’s best men, while the middle brother tragically passed away at a young age.
According to “Spare,” the older brother had the honor of being William’s best man, while the younger brother, Henry, was a close friend of Harry’s.
Tragically, Henry lost his life in a car accident at the tender age of 18, mirroring the fate of their late mother, who also wasn’t wearing a seatbelt at the time.
It remains uncertain whether the Van Straubenze family desired to be mentioned in Harry’s book or if they wanted the seatbelt incident to be brought up.
At the annual fundraiser memorial for Henry, both Meghan and Harry attended.
During the event, Harry chose the Van Straubenze platform, which focuses on poverty and education, to emphasize Meghan’s dedication to menstrual health.
Harry expressed, “As my wife said many years ago when working on menstrual health and health education, this isn’t about periods but potential.”
Meghan further contributed to the memorial by reciting a poem about activism.
While it is difficult to gauge the Van Straubenze family’s thoughts on Harry and Meghan, it is worth noting that they maintain close ties with William and Catherine.
The eldest brother, Thomas, has been friends with both Harry and William since their school days.
However, recent controversy surrounds his best man status at William’s wedding.
Additionally, Thomas holds the role of one of Princess Charlotte’s five godparents.
Harry’s claim that being William’s best man was merely for show raises eyebrows.
He asserts that he did not deliver the best man’s speech, which contradicts multiple reports from that time stating otherwise.
According to an article by the Mirror, the two friends mentioned in “Spare” provided comedic relief during the wedding.
Interestingly, Harry did serve as the best man for the third Van Straubenze brother in August 2018, shortly after his marriage to Meghan.
On that day, numerous photos captured Meghan’s presence, with paparazzi vying for her attention.
Unfortunately, this overshadowed the bride on her special day, coincidentally also her birthday.
Some photographs depict Meghan in a seemingly compromising position, with her hand positioned as if unbuttoning her blouse while maintaining eye contact with the paparazzi.
The story of the Van Straubenze brothers adds a layer of complexity to the lives of Prince Harry and Prince William.