The bond between King Charles III and his son, Prince Harry, has been in the public spotlight ever since Harry and Meghan Markle made the decision to withdraw from their royal roles and relocate to California in 2020.
In a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the couple described the hardships they encountered as active royals, including allegations of racism and inadequate support from the royal household. Prince Harry’s memoir, “Spare,” published in 2023, offered deeper glimpses into his struggles and his viewpoint on the dynamics within the royal family. Their six-episode documentary on Netflix also examined these issues, bringing their complaints to the public forefront.
Regardless of these revelations, Harry showed his family loyalty by attending the coronation of King Charles in May 2023. The relationship continued to be tense, but Harry’s love and concern were apparent when he quickly returned to the UK upon learning about his father’s cancer diagnosis earlier this year. Reflecting on this trip, Harry conveyed his appreciation for the time shared with his father during an interview with Good Morning America, stating, “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 analyst Robert Hardman, in his book “Charles III: New King. New Court.,” observed that King Charles was deeply wounded by the public comments made by Harry and Meghan. An insider cited 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 trips to the UK, including for the Invictus Games, were filled with speculation about potential interactions with his family. However, these meetings often did not occur due to the king’s packed schedule. The intricate nature of their relationship was further exposed in Prince Harry’s memoir, where he detailed a heated debate with his father regarding Meghan. Prince Harry felt that King Charles discussed Meghan in a dismissive manner, leading to a disagreement.
The tensions in their relationship became more visible after the Oprah interview in 2021, where Prince Harry and Meghan revealed their struggles within the royal family. Meghan disclosed that there were worries within the royal family about the potential skin color of their son. This revelation was followed by a letter from King Charles to Meghan, implying that the comment was not intended to be malicious.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams noted that although Prince Harry has made attempts to reconcile with his brother, Prince William, these efforts have been met with pushback. Fitzwilliams advised against Prince Harry and Meghan’s potential return to the royal family, suggesting it could result in further embarrassment for the couple amid the ongoing controversies and public discord.
Despite these obstacles, King Charles is reportedly contemplating a visit to the United States to meet his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet, and mend ties with Prince Harry. The king’s recent cancer diagnosis and health issues have made this potential visit a matter of concern for the royal family. While the king is keen to be a “friendly grandfather,” the strained ties between the royals and the Sussexes continue to be a significant obstacle.
Prince Harry’s upcoming second memoir is also a subject of speculation. According to royal experts, he may delay its release until after his father’s passing. This follows the substantial impact of his first memoir, “Spare,” which disclosed numerous personal aspects of his life, including his tense relationship with his stepmother, Queen Camilla.
For reconciliation with his family, experts suggest that Prince Harry would need to publicly acknowledge that “Spare” was a mistake and that he was going through a “bad space” when he wrote it.
The path to reconciliation remains unclear, but King Charles and Prince Harry seem to be maneuvering their intricate relationship with a sense of duty and family allegiance.