Prince Harry's Birthday Bust: 'Man Baby' Duke 'Deprived of Freedom' by Meghan Markle Who Is 'Spare' Author's 'Therapist and Babysitter'

Meghan Markle is reportedly pulling Prince Harry's strings as she orchestrates "every single microscopic fiber of their lives, both public and private," according to one palace insider.

Aristocrat Lady Victoria Hervey has dished to GBN's Nana Akua how the royal Duke has become "dependent" on the Duchess, who "banned" the "man-baby" 40-year-old from having a large party to celebrate his milestone birthday," RadarOnline.com can reveal.

The "claustrophobic Meghan Markle fantasyland" in Montecito seems to be perfectly okay for the military veteran prince, who has apparently become "a shell of his former self".

Lady Hervey said: "He wanted to do a big party, and she did not want that.

"I think she's so worried about him straying and seeing his old friends and spending time with them and remembering his old life, that she's got him in this cage where all he knows is this life that he has with her."

Akua chimed in to highlight how the fifth-in-line to the British throne is a "grown man" and should be able to decide how and if he even wants a celebration for hitting the big 4-0.

Hervey replied: "40 is still very young – men are quite juvenile at 40 years old. If he had a choice, he would have probably been in England with a lot of his old friends, but she's not going to let him do that, is she?"

She continued: "I think she keeps him on a really tight leash.

"You can see it in him, he's deprived of freedom. She's sort of his therapist and his babysitter and he's very, very dependent on her."

This curious insight follows recent news sharing how the duke is not expected to "visit Kate and William" during his trip to the U.K. on Monday, September 30, for the WellChild Awards.

This also comes amid the "olive branch that isn't an olive branch" when the California duke received a "stunning" birthday message from both King Charles III and the Wales family.

The Prince of Wales and his brother allegedly haven't spoken a word to one another privately since Queen Elizabeth II's funeral nearly two years ago.

It is said Harry's disparaging remarks against the future king and his wife, as well as sharing personal details about other senior royals. are "of course" a few of the reasons why.

Some feel Markle's "quiet and coy" behind-the-scenes presence in all of these events could be her "maneuvering the prince like a puppet to frame a story she wishes to control".

Akua said: "He just likes to keep her sweet. I don't think there's anything wrong with a man wanting to keep his wife sweet, but it depends what her demands are."

Have a tip? Send it to us! Email RadarOnline.com at tips@radaronline.com.