Who is Prince Harry’s childhood friend, Hugh van Cutsem Jr? He just appeared in Clarkson’s Farm by Jeremy Clarkson – who wrote that scathing column about Meghan Markle – but is still pals with William
![](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/768x768/public/d8/images/canvas/2024/05/20/2bba0c5b-8eba-4904-b0bc-bdc68aceec9a_a79f3502.jpg?itok=bGTpHUao&v=1716196028)
Prince Harry’s childhood friend Hugh van Cutsem surprised fans this week after he was seen on the seventh episode of Jeremy Clarkson’s Clarkson’s Farm TV show.
![Hugh van Cutsem Jr (right) recently appeared on Jeremy Clarkson’s Clarkson’s Farm TV show. Photo: Handout](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/05/20/7125fec6-3fad-473d-8c63-04b62678e36a_be6cfde1.jpg)
So, who is Hugh van Cutsem exactly – and why is he hanging out with the Sussexes’ “arch nemesis”?
Hugh van Cutsem was childhood friends with Prince William and Prince Harry
![Hugh van Cutsem Jr, Prince Harry and Prince William attend the wedding of Edward van Cutsem and Lady Tamara Grosvenor at Chester Cathedral in 2004, in Chester, England. Photo: Indigo/Getty Images](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/05/20/b6ac8302-6f33-4a13-aa7f-529e6da03f49_c18b98c0.jpg)
Hugh Jr’s friendship with the heir to the British throne and his younger brother dates back decades.
His wife, Rose Astor, once seemed to mock Meghan Markle
![Hugh van Cutsem Jr and Rose van Cutsem attend the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in May 2018, in Windsor, England. Photo: Indigo/Getty Images](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/05/20/3c00af93-5f05-4170-bfdb-617c7db5696c_bf31fef5.jpg)
According to The Times, Hugh Jr’s wife Rose van Cutsem, better known as Rose Astor, is a journalist and entrepreneur – and she once made a comment that netizens believe was a dig at Meghan and Harry. Per British media, following the Sussexes’ announced departure from the royal family in 2020, Rose took to social media to write: “I am standing back as a senior member of my tax return because I’d rather drink coffee, see my friends, love my family and do yoga.”
He’s in Prince William’s inner circle
![Hugh van Cutsem and Prince William attend the wedding of Nicholas van Cutsem and Alice Hadden-Paton at The Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks, in 2009, in London, England. Photo: Indigo/Getty Images](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/05/20/8a5a59d0-3b9d-456a-9e8c-3e91f55317ec_fcec532a.jpg)
While it’s unclear where Harry and Hugh Jr stand today, it seems like Hugh Jr still gets along fine with Prince William. As shared in an article published by Hello! in March, Hugh remains one of Wills’ closest confidants.
Was he mentioned in Prince Harry’s memoir Spare?
![Hugh Van Cutsem Jr attends a requiem mass for Hugh van Cutsem, who passed away in 2013, at Brentwood Cathedral, in Brentwood, England. Photo: UK Press via Getty Images](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/05/20/712f0839-ef9e-4985-98b3-429cbb5b00a5_60caba5d.jpg)
He wrote, “Several close mates and beloved figures in my life, including one of Hugh [Sr] and Emilie’s sons, Emilie herself, and even Tiggy [Pettifer, his former nanny], had chastised me for Oprah. ‘How could you reveal such things? About your family?’”
![](https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/_next/static/media/wheel-on-gray.af4a55f9.gif)
- Prince Harry’s former friend Hugh van Cutsem Jr surprised fans this week after he was seen on the seventh episode of Jeremy Clarkson’s Clarkson’s Farm TV show
- For those who might not remember, the former Top Gear host wrote a scathing opinion piece about Harry’s wife Meghan Markle for The Sun last year, and faced backlash for his misogynistic comments