Now incapable of writing, Oscar takes refuge in Paris, where he lives off his wits and the charity of his old supporters. Shortly afterwards Constance, who had forbidden Oscar any contact with Bosie, dies from complications following surgery, and Oscar is denied any contact with their two children. Despite Oscar's anger, they give in and separate. Soon Bosie's mother ceases to send her son his allowance – she is willing to resume payments and give a £200 payoff to Oscar if the two lovers separate. Oscar and Bosie flee together to Naples, where they live for some time in a house in Posillipo, leading a libertine life. Oscar then reunites with his old lover Bosie Douglas, angering Robbie, whose secret love for him has never been reciprocated. He is recognised by some young Englishmen, who taunt him and pursue him into a church he defends himself violently, then receives severe warnings from the police. Wilde assumes the alias of Sebastian Melmoth and tries to rebuild his life: he vainly writes to his wife Constance Lloyd to try to make peace with her. Separated from his wife and children, he arrives in Dieppe, where old friends Reggie Turner and Robert Ross await him. Oscar Wilde has just been released from prison after serving his sentence for gross indecency.

The film was released in Italy on 12 April 2018, in the United Kingdom on 15 June 2018 and in the United States on 10 October 2018 to positive reviews from critics. The film's title alludes to the children's story by Oscar Wilde, The Happy Prince and Other Tales, which Wilde would read aloud to his children. At the 9th Magritte Awards, it received a nomination in the category of Best Foreign Film. It premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, and was shown at the 2018 BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival. The film stars Everett, Colin Firth, Colin Morgan, Emily Watson, Edwin Thomas and Tom Wilkinson.

The Happy Prince is a 2018 biographical drama film about Oscar Wilde, written and directed by Rupert Everett in his directorial debut.

The little prince oscar wilde