The relationship between King Charles III and his son, Prince Harry, has been a focal point of public attention since Harry and Meghan Markle decided to step back from their royal duties and move to California in 2020.
In their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Harry and Meghan detailed the difficulties they faced as working royals, including allegations of racism and lack of support from the royal household. Harry’s memoir, “Spare,” released in 2023, provided further insights into his struggles and his perspective on the royal family dynamics. Their six-part Netflix documentary also explored these issues, bringing their grievances into the public eye.
Despite these disclosures, Harry demonstrated his familial loyalty by attending King Charles’s coronation in May 2023. The relationship remained strained but love and concern were evident when Harry made a swift return to the UK upon hearing about his father’s cancer diagnosis earlier this year. Reflecting on this visit, Harry expressed his gratitude for the time spent with his father, stating in an interview with Good Morning America, “I jumped on a plane and went to see him as soon as I could. Look, I love my family. The fact that I was able to spend any time with him, I’m grateful for that.”
Royal expert Robert Hardman, in his book “Charles III: New King. New Court.”, noted that Harry and Meghan’s public comments deeply hurt King Charles. An insider quoted in Hardman’s book said, “He has tried listening. Now he just says: ‘I don’t want to know what the problem is. I’m just getting on with my life.'”
Prince Harry’s recent visits to the UK, including for the Invictus Games, were marked by speculation about potential meetings with his family. However, these encounters did not materialize, often due to the king’s busy schedule. The complexities of their relationship were further highlighted in Prince Harry’s memoir, where he recounted a heated exchange with his father concerning Meghan. Prince Harry felt that King Charles spoke dismissively about Meghan, leading to an intense argument.
The strains in their relationship became more public after the Oprah interview in 2021, where Prince Harry and Meghan discussed their challenges within the royal family. Meghan revealed that there were concerns within the royal family about how dark their son’s skin might be. This disclosure was followed by King Charles writing to Meghan, suggesting there was no malice in the remark.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams noted that while Prince Harry has reached out to his brother, Prince William, in hopes of reconciliation, these efforts have been met with resistance. Fitzwilliams cautioned against Prince Harry and Meghan’s potential return to the royal family, suggesting it could lead to further humiliation for the couple given the ongoing controversies and public rifts.
Despite these challenges, King Charles is reportedly considering a visit to the United States to meet his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet, and reconcile with Prince Harry. The king’s recent cancer diagnosis and health concerns have made this potential visit a source of worry for the royal family. While the king is eager to be a “friendly grandfather,” the strained relationship between the royals and the Sussexes remains a significant hurdle.
Prince Harry’s second memoir is also a topic of speculation. According to royal experts, he may wait to release it until after his father is no longer alive. This follows the significant impact of his first memoir, “Spare,” which revealed several personal details about his life, including his strained relationship with his stepmother, Queen Camilla.
To reconcile with his family, experts believe Prince Harry would need to make a public statement acknowledging that “Spare” was a mistake and that he was in a “bad space” at the time.
The road to reconciliation remains uncertain, but King Charles and Prince Harry appear to be navigating their complex relationship with a sense of duty and familial loyalty.
