Prince Charles apparently wasn't properly notified that his son Prince Harry was going to tell the world he was dating Meghan Markle. This reportedly left the Prince of Wales "crushed" because he felt Prince Harry took the spotlight away from his work.
The upcoming biography Finding Freedom detailed the disappointment of Prince Charles over his son's action. In November 2016, the heir to the throne just announced the results of his Middle East tour with his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, when Prince Harry made his relationship with Meghan, then a Hollywood TV actress, public.
Prince Charles was reportedly notified just 20 minutes before Prince Harry released a statement to the press. The royal was hoping that his diplomatic efforts with the royal family in Bahrain would get media mileage but the press was more interested in Prince Harry's news.
The Duke of Sussex was prompted to issue a statement about his relationship because Meghan was slowly getting some harassment from the press. His message, however, stole the thunder from his father, who was counting on significant coverage for the critical diplomatic work he and Camilla prepared for in months.
But the book also stated that Prince Charles understood Prince Harry reached a tipping point with the press over his budding romance with Meghan. So, regardless of the timing, the Palace agreed to release Prince Harry's statement, which the Duke of Sussex reportedly prepared himself.
Meanwhile, royal biographer Tom Bower wrote in his Daily Mail column that Prince Charles welcomed Prince Harry's relationship with Meghan with warmness, despite what the new book revealed. The Prince of Wales broke royal protocol and agreed to walk Meghan down the aisle when she had issues with her own father, Thomas Markle.
Bower also said that in the months that followed after Prince Harry and Meghan's royal wedding in 2018, Prince Charles made Meghan aware she was appreciated for her independence, hard work and "lively mind." The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's decision to step back from the royal family did not just create a rift, it also hurt Prince Charles.
The biographer went on to say that Prince Charles gets Prince Harry's vulnerabilities and sensitivities. Bower is certain that the father is making efforts to patch up and rebuild the royal family's relationship with Prince Harry, apart from offering to support the Sussexes in their first year of independence from the royals.
