Prince Harry and King Charles’ relationship is not what it once was, of that much we can be certain. The estranged prince and his father’s bond was seriously damaged when Harry spoke about his experiences within the royal sphere – Harry’s memoir, Spare , proved the final straw.
Despite the feud – which has been ongoing for many years – the fact that the king and queen, along with Prince William and Kate Middleton, decided to congratulate Harry on his 40th birthday some weeks ago was quite surprising. But according to one royal expert, birthdays have unfortunately become another negative part of the now-difficult father-son relationship.
Prince Harry has only been back in the UK a few times during the last number of years. While there, he’s not seen his father every time, though he’ll get another chance in just a few days as the Duke attends the WellChild Awards. Ahead of that, a sad new report suggests that the king and estranged prince won’t meet each other… And the reason is heartbreaking.
King Charles and Prince Harry weren’t always at odds with one another, even if it seems as though the father-son duo have endured problems since Harry was born in 1984. In his book, Spare , Harry claimed that his father made a joke when his second son arrived, saying he finally had gotten his “spare.” Moreover, Harry added that he “was brought into the world in case something happened to Willy.”
Prince Harry & Meghan Markle – relationship with King Charles
What’s been has been, and no one can alter the past. What can be done, however, is that Charles and Harry might make amends, not least for sake of Harry’s children. For his part, Charles is said to be heartbroken about not getting to see his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Despite this, though, Harry claimed he wouldn’t visit the UK with his wife Meghan and their children as he fears for his family’s safety.
Speaking with OK! , former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond claimed that Archie and Lilibet could be the reason why Harry and Meghan won’t cut off the royals entirely, especially King Charles.
“I can imagine that the King very much wants the chance to get to know Archie and Lilibet and to create some memories for them. The children may provide the most compelling link between Charles and Harry, and convince them both to forgive, if not forget, the bitter rows of the past,” Bond said.
She added: “I fervently hope that Harry will not follow Meghan’s example of remaining obdurately estranged from her father and most of her family. Maybe Archie and Lilibet hold the key to reconciliation between Charles and Harry.”
Royal expert and author Ingrid Seward argued that the same applies to King Charles, and explains why he won’t end his relationship with his son.
“Family has always been important to the King. He remembers his own somewhat fragmented childhood as his parents were always busy doing their duty. It is a great sadness to him he doesn’t see more of Archie and Lilibet,” Seward told the Mirror .
PALENQUE, COLOMBIA – AUGUST 17: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex are seen in the streets of San Basilio de Palenque during a visit around Colombia on August 17, 2024 in Cartagena, Colombia. (Photo by Vizzor Image/Getty Images)
“That is why he will never break ties with Harry. He does not want a FaceTime relationship with his son’s children,” she continued. “He wants to know them and be involved with their lives while they are still young enough to be able to learn from his wisdom. His cancer has made it all the more poignant to him as he knows that he won’t be around forever.”
King Charles isn’t taking Harry’s calls, expert claims
Prince Harry last talked with his brother, Prince William, years ago, while contact with King Charles has also come few and far between. While the Duke reportedly wants to make amends with his father, it appears to be more difficult than one would expect.
According to royal commentator Emily Andrews, Charles has a harsh reaction whenever an aide approaches him with a phone to inform him that Harry is on the line.
“Now, even his own father is not taking his calls. I’m told that when courtiers bring the phone to the King (Charles doesn’t have his own mobile phone) he waves them away in irritation,” she told the Mirror .
“This is not because there’s been yet another falling out,” Andrews added. “Rather, it is thought to be because Harry wants to continuously discuss his ongoing battle for security, which he has been fighting in the court for four years and believes Charles has the power to reinstate.”
That Prince Harry and the other members of Royal Family might make amends seems unlikely at best. Therefore, it was quite a surprise that the Duke received birthday messages from King Charles and Queen Camilla, Prince William and Kate Middleton.
“Wishing The Duke of Sussex a very happy 40th birthday today!” King Charles’ and Queen Camilla’s social media posts read.
ASCOT, ENGLAND – JUNE 14: Prince Harry chats to Prince Charles, Prince of Wales during Day 1 of Royal Ascot on June 14, 2016 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Anwar Hussein/WireImage)
Prince William and Kate Middleton’s social media account also marked Harry’s birthday. Their post read: “Wishing a Happy 40th Birthday to The Duke of Sussex!”
“Charles wants to know what’s going on in Harry’s life”
While King Charles reportedly wasn’t happy when Harry called, the two shared a friendly phone call about the prince’s birthday. According to royal expert Katie Nicholl, the father-son duo “spoke on the phone” and the relationship is “positive.”
Moreover, Charles is “hopeful” that their relationship will improve.
“Charles wants to know what’s going on in Harry’s life and hear about the children, but he’s guarded because Harry has breached the trust between them on a number of occasions. Charles needs to know their private conversations remain just that. Private,” an insider told the royal expert in Vanity Fair .
The fact that King Charles – and Prince William, for that matter – congratulated Prince Harry publicly on his 40th birthday was a big surprise to many royal fans. But it seems like more than their relationship is tense at the moment.
According to royal expert Rebecca English, birthdays, in general, are a subject that is causing friction within the royal family at the moment. For example, when King Charles turned 75 last year, Prince Harry called his father. However, the details of their call ended up in the newspapers, which made King Charles furious.
The fact that the content of the phone call made the news also led to Charles being reluctant to spill too many details when speaking to his son now.
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
According to royal expert Rebecca English, when Charles turned 75 last year, Harry rang up his dad, but the fact that the conversation and details of their call hit the news was a sore spot for the king. English explained that Charles was happy to call his son this year but is still careful with everything between himself and Harry.
Why King Charles was ‘furious’ after Prince Harry’s birthday call
“Charles is angry, and he is hurt. But he is still his son at the end of the day, which is why it’s always been said as much as he is keeping distance at the moment, he will never entirely shut that door to him,” she explained on the Palace Confidential podcast.
One of the details that became public on the king’s birthday last year was that Harry and Meghan had sent Charles a video of Archie and Lilibet. That, if something, was a very personal thing for him, which was not to be public knowledge, the royal expert explained.
“One thing I did find out is how really disappointed the king was back in November when Harry did call him to wish him not just a happy 75th birthday, but also his children did a little video singing happy birthday to the grandpa they barely even see,” English said on the podcast.
“And within hours of that happening, that was leaked from the Sussex side to favored media and that really crossed the line in the sand for the royal family, because so very little of their lives is genuinely private. So much is lived in public or even surrounded by staff watching everything they do. So, private conversations, particularly private phone calls, are really considered just that.”
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
Prince Harry hasn’t met his father since the beginning of this year, when he embarked on a whirlwind trip to see him after his cancer diagnosis. The meeting only lasted about 30 minutes, with reports suggesting that Queen Camilla had been furious with Harry afterward.
Prince Harry & King Charles’ September reunion “highly unlikely”
Moreover, in May, Harry attended a special 10th-anniversary service for the Invictus Games in London but reportedly declined King Charles’ offer to stay at a royal residence. The father and son didn’t meet at all that time, but in late September they could get another shot at reuniting as Harry returns to the UK again — this time for the WellChild Awards.
“I am once again honored to attend this year’s WellChild Awards celebrating the remarkable courage and achievements of children living with complex medical needs,” Harry said in a statement.
The prince is said to stay just a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace. But now, a royal source is presenting the sad news that there will be no reunion between Harry and his father.
King Charles is in Edinburgh to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament that same day. A source told the Express that a meeting between the two hasn’t been ruled out but is “highly unlikely.”
“The King is due to head south in late September,” said the source. “The King and Queen will mark the 25th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament on September 28 and will have several free days afterwards.”
Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage
“There are currently discussions ongoing about finding a mutually agreeable place in the diary.”
“it doesn’t look promising”
Moreover, the source added that a reunion is especially doubtful as neither Harry nor Charles will stay in London long.
“If the King decides to head to London in the evening of Sunday 29 for meetings pencilled inearly that week, it is still looking highly unlikely that there will be time to meet with his son,” the source explained. “It still hasn’t been decided if His Majesty will head to Highgrove or London on the tail end of Scotland or how his plans will pan out during that week.
“Harry is also making a flying visit and his travel plans have already been booked and organised. There still could be something worked out as nothing is set in stone but it doesn’t look promising.”
