Charles & Harry’s Feud Just Took a Turn For the Worse After the King Committed His Son’s ‘Worst Fear’—It’s ‘Truly Sad’
The relationship between King Charles and his son Harry has been complicated for a while. A lot of stuff has been going on—even before the King was diagnosed with cancer and had to scale back his Royal duties. But Prince Harry isn’t really the one who has to worry about that part. That’s all on Prince William and Kate Middleton, who are set to take over. Prince Harry is not only not next in the line of succession, but he stepped back from his royal duties a few years ago.
In many ways, that’s the root of the problems. But it’s really the consequences of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepping back from their royal duties and moving to the United States, and what that has meant for their family, that have taken the relationship between Prince Harry and King Charles to the point it is today. And Prince Harry is not holding back now as he fights in court over the removal of his police protection.
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A couple of weeks ago, the Prince told reporters they would “be shocked” to hear “what’s being held back” in the case, adding that his “worst fears have been confirmed by the whole legal disclosure,” adding, “and that’s really sad.” The words come after Prince Harry made it clear he believes the decision to suspend security for his family was a calculated move by the Palace to prevent him and Meghan from stepping back from their royal duties.
The ongoing court case has been “terrible for Harry’s relationship with Charles,” a royal insider told Us Weekly. “Harry blames Charles and thinks he can intervene. But [Charles] can’t, and it just continues Harry’s narrative that he’s been cast out.” Prince Harry and King Charles have reportedly not seen each other since early 2021, and King Charles is not answering Prince Harry’s messages, according to royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams. “At the moment, Harry does not seem to have a relationship with his father at all. It’s truly sad.”
Another Royal insider told the outlet the decision isn’t really in King Charles’ hands. “Prince Harry doesn’t seem to understand that Charles can’t get involved in the decision about his security, but he still blames him. Harry and Meghan are no longer working royals, so they don’t get royal protection anymore. It’s the British public paying for this, so there’s no leeway here.”
However, according to the outlet, lawyers for Prince Harry have indicated the Prince was led to believe he and his family would have protection for the rest of his life, and then his security was downgraded without completing a threat, risk, and impact assessment, which is standard policy. And Harry is convinced his father can do something about it, with royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams saying he believes Harry “regards what he perceives as the King’s indifference as a betrayal of some sort.”
This has left their relationship in a place where it seems like there really is no turning back, right when King Charles’ health is at the worst it’s been in years and succession planning is already in place. “He’s the oldest Prince of Wales to become king in history, so succession planning had begun before Charles came to the throne simply because of the age issue,” royal author Tom Quinn told Harper’s Bazaar recently.
And things might not get better if and when Harry’s brother William takes the throne, as there are reports William would take an even stronger stance with his brother. “It’s no secret William wants Harry more harshly dealt with. He thinks he has betrayed the family from top to bottom, which is the ultimate Windsor crime. It wouldn’t take much to provoke him to flex his muscles when he is king,” a palace insider told The Daily Beast.
For now, the impasse between King Charles and Prince Harry continues. “They are not in communication with each other,” royal historian Marlene Koenig said. “Charles loves his son, but at this time, he and his advisers prefer the tough love treatment.” And Harry? Well, he’s not giving in.
