Public interest has been piqued ever since Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, chose to relinquish their royal duties and relocate to California, USA, in 2020. Central to this intrigue is the relationship between King Charles III and his son, Prince Harry.
The couple’s candid 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey shed light on the challenges they faced within the royal family, including allegations of racism and lack of support. Harry’s 2023 memoir, “Spare,” offered more personal insights into his struggles and his view of the royal dynamics. A six-part Netflix documentary series further expanded on these issues, making them more public.
Despite these revelations, Harry’s loyalty to his family was evident when he attended King Charles’s coronation in May 2023. His love and concern for his father were also clear when he rushed back to the UK upon learning of his father’s cancer diagnosis earlier this year. During an interview with Good Morning America, Harry expressed gratitude for the time he spent with his father during this challenging period.
Reportedly, the king misses his son and wants to see his grandchildren, who reside in California.
However, Robert Hardman, a royal expert, noted in his book “Charles III: New King. New Court.” that the public comments made by Harry and Meghan caused much pain to King Charles. A source quoted in Hardman’s book indicated that the king had grown weary of the ongoing issues.
Speculation surrounded Prince Harry’s recent visits to the UK, including for the Invictus Games, due to potential meetings with his family. However, these never transpired, often due to King Charles’s busy schedule. Prince Harry’s memoir further underscored their relationship’s complexity, detailing a heated conversation between the prince and his father about Meghan.
The relationship between Prince Harry and King Charles became even more scrutinized after the 2021 Oprah interview. Meghan disclosed that the royal family had expressed concerns about their son’s potential skin color, which resulted in King Charles writing a letter to Meghan stating that the comment was not intended maliciously.
Royal observer Richard Fitzwilliams noted that Prince Harry’s attempts at reconciling with his brother, Prince William, have been unproductive. He also advised against Prince Harry and Meghan’s possible return to the royal family, predicting further public humiliation due to the ongoing controversies.
Despite these challenges, King Charles is reportedly contemplating a visit to the US to see his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet, and reconcile with Prince Harry. However, the king’s recent cancer diagnosis and health concerns have made this potential visit a concern for the royal family. While the king desires to be a “friendly grandfather,” the ongoing tension between the royals and the Sussexes poses a significant barrier.
Anticipation surrounds the release of Prince Harry’s second memoir. According to royal experts, he may delay its release until after his father’s death. His first memoir, “Spare,” made waves by revealing intimate details about his life, including his tense relationship with his stepmother, Queen Camilla.
Experts believe that for Prince Harry to reconcile with his family, he would need to publicly admit that “Spare” was an error and that he was in a “bad space” when he wrote it.
The path to reconciliation remains unclear, but both King Charles and Prince Harry are seemingly handling their intricate relationship with a sense of duty and familial loyalty.
