What Really Happened Between Prince Harry And Chelsy Davy

It was once thought that Chelsy Davy, Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend, could become a part of the royal family. Of course, we now know that the prince ultimately ended up falling in love with Meghan Markle and, ever since their relationship became public knowledge in 2016, people have been itching to know everything they can about the royal couple. From their blossoming fairytale romance, star-studded royal wedding, and journey to becoming parents, there's hardly a day that goes by without something new for fans of the royal couple to fawn over.

However, it hasn't all been sunshine and roses for the royal couple. In early 2020, they announced their decision to step back as senior royals (aka "Megxit"). There's been speculation of Harry having a rift with his brother Prince William. Additionally, Harry and Meghan decided to fight back against the British tabloids with a lawsuit (via CNN World).

Yes, Prince Harry is no stranger to life in the limelight. He's been at it for decades. In the early 2000s, though, it wasn't Meghan Markle who was by his side and bearing the brunt of the British press, it was Prince Harry's first girlfriend Chelsy Davy. But what really happened between the two?

Though Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy had initially met in England, their relationship didn't really take off until Harry's extended gap year in South Africa. According to William and Harry: Behind the Palace Walls, Harry was instantly love-struck by Davy on their first meeting, and when they met up again in South Africa, Harry had "every intention of reconnecting with her."

Harry, for his part, has always loved Africa. His connection to the continent helped him cope after the death of his mother, Princess Diana, the prince told reporters in 2019 (via People). According to royal biographer Angela Levin's book, Harry: Conversations With The Prince, Davy and Harry bonded over their shared love for Africa. 

Throughout his time in South Africa, Harry visited Davy often, William and Harry revealed. As they continued getting to know each other while exploring Cape Town on Harry's weekend visits, their relationship grew more serious. Harry even wrote to a friend, saying Davy was "the love of [his] life" (via Harry: Conversations With The Prince).

Meeting your significant other's family is stressful under any circumstance. Everything, down to what you wear, has to be carefully planned out so as to make a good first impression. Now, imagine dating a member of the royal family — the pressure is nearly unimaginable. Chelsy Davy must've made a good impression on the royal family, though, as she was well-liked.

According to royal expert Katie Nicholl's book, Harry: Life, Loss, and Love, Harry introduced Davy to his father, Prince Charles, and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, over a Valentine's Day visit. That first meeting went so well that Davy was then invited on a family ski trip. 

As their relationship grew more serious, Davy was invited to her first royal wedding (and meeting with the queen) alongside Kate Middleton, Harry revealed. This shared experience served to bond the two together, according to royal biographer Angela Levin's book, Harry: Conversations With The Prince.

While most of us get to live out our young adult years without the paparazzi scrutinizing our decisions, the British press has made a headline out of Prince Harry's every move for the better part of two decades. In his early 20s, Harry earned the reputation of a "bad boy."

The tabloids wasted no time in connecting him with other women while he was still involved with Chelsy Davy. According to royal expert Katie Nicholl's book William and Harry: Behind the Palace Walls, the summer of 2006 was a difficult time in the couple's relationship. A slew of women came forward claiming to have had some sort of relationship with Harry, driving a wrench in the couple's already tenuous relationship.  Additionally, two years prior, Harry was had been involved in a late-night altercation with a photographer outside of a nightclub in 2004, per BBC News, thus solidifying his reputation.

The cost of dating a prince is a hefty one with its constant media attention and zero privacy. Though the early months of Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy's relationship were private, once they were caught kissing on camera, it was game over, according to royal biographer Angela Levin's Harry: Conversations With The Prince.

While Harry was relatively safe from the media during his time at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, his girlfriend wasn't, as explained in Harry: Conversations With The Prince. She was tracked by photographers and was followed everywhere. Even when she was in South Africa, there was simply no escape. 

Years later, in a 2015 interview with The Times, Davy revealed the extent to which the media attention got to her, saying "It was so full-on: crazy and scary and uncomfortable. I found it very difficult when it was bad. I couldn't cope."

Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy got their relationship back on track just a few weeks after breaking up in 2007. After Harry returned from a secret posting in Afghanistan in 2008, Harry began visiting Davy at Leeds in earnest, according to royal expert Katie Nicholl's book, Harry: Life, Loss, and Love. Their weekends together in Leeds were fun, relaxed, and most importantly, private.

As Harry: Life, Loss, and Love detailed, the prince and his girlfriend enjoyed weekends in Leeds together because they could be away from the public eye. Notably, Davy's roommates never blabbed to the press about the couple's whereabouts, so Leeds became a sort of sanctuary for the couple. Though the humble weekends at Davy's house were vastly different from Harry's usually lavish life, spending time in Leeds together was just what Harry and Chelsy needed to solidify their relationship.

Your 20s are some of the most formative years of your life. That's when you experience the world as an adult and have to really find your own footing. Relationships during this age are tricky. You could be madly in love with your partner, but still not even really know who you are yet. As such, it's easy to see why this royal couple called it quits.

According to royal expert Katie Nicholl's Harry: Life, Loss, and Love, a mutual friend to Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy said, "It just seems to be a case that it was the right person for Harry but the wrong time." Davy had weathered the scrutiny and media attention that came along with dating a royal, but after several years in the spotlight, it had all become too much to bear, The Telegraph explained. 

Additionally, the publication revealed that Prince Harry had seemingly grown to prefer partying and nights out with his friends over spending time with Davy. In truth, anyone paying attention could have probably seen this split coming from miles away.

Do you ever really forget your first love? Prince Harry and Chelsy Davy spent five long years together and though they may have felt breaking up was the right call, that didn't make it any easier. Even years later, Harry reportedly called Davy days before his marriage to Meghan Markle and the two had a very emotional conversation.

Davy's friend allegedly revealed to Vanity Fair, "It was their final call, a parting call in which they both acknowledged Harry was moving on" (via Elle). Just a few years prior to Harry and Meghan's wedding, there was still some lingering hope. Royal expert Katie Nicholl confirmed to InStyle, saying, "Right up until 2015 they were trying to give it another chance."

The finality of Harry's wedding was reportedly a lot for Davy to handle — so much so that she almost pulled out of going to the wedding altogether after speaking with Harry. At the end of the day, though, Davy donned a navy blue dress and joined Harry's other ex, Cressida Bonas, in watching Harry get married (via Elle).