Prince William, the Prince of Wales, is reportedly taking the lead in succession planning discussions as his father, King Charles, undergoes cancer treatment, and is adamant about excluding his brother, Prince Harry, from any involvement. According to royal expert and author Tom Quinn, who spoke exclusively to the Mirror, Harry, who stepped down as a working royal in 2020, has "zero chance" of being asked to assist during this crucial time.
"As a non-working royal, Harry is also no longer a counsellor of state and he is not being kept in the loop because there is zero chance he will be asked to help out," Quinn explained. "William is adamant that he does not want Harry involved in any aspect of succession discussions or in planning for counsellors of state to help out if and when it becomes necessary. And as the next in line, what William wants, William gets."
The exclusion of Harry from these discussions is believed to stem from a lack of trust within the royal family. Quinn suggested that Charles' plans center around Prince William, who is at the heart of the succession planning. "No one trusts Harry," he added.
"Charles is also aware that, as future king, William is at the heart of the succession planning that is taking place right now," Quinn told The Mirror. "Officials had assumed Charles would remain healthy at least into his mid-eighties before succession planning would need to begin, but in fact, it has now begun and indicates perhaps that Charles' cancer is more dangerous than we have been led to believe."
The secrecy surrounding the succession planning is paramount, and the royal family is wary of Harry's potential reaction if he feels slighted or not given what he believes he deserves. "Succession planning is highly secret, and no one trusts Harry to be part of it for the simple reason that if he feels in any way slighted or not given what he feels he deserves, he will run straight to the media," Quinn explained.
King Charles' illness has accelerated the need for succession planning, with a "highly unlikely situation" involving Harry and Meghan returning to royal duties being considered. Royal expert Jennie Bond, speaking to Heat magazine, said that while it is an "extreme precaution," Harry would likely "uproot his family" if called upon to fill in for the short term.
"I don't think regency is something he'd welcome, but he'd be able to do things his way for once," Bond added. However, she pointed out that any involvement from Harry would be for a "very short period," as Prince William's son, George, can legitimately become King when he turns 18 in seven years.
A source also told Heat magazine that Harry and Meghan are finding it "hard" to hear that King Charles is making concession plans without consulting them, but they insisted that the Sussexes are "not going to kick up a fuss."
The exclusion of Prince Harry from succession discussions highlights the ongoing tensions within the royal family, particularly between the two brothers. As King Charles focuses on his health and treatment, Prince William is stepping up to ensure a smooth transition and protect the future of the monarchy, even if it means keeping his brother at arm's length.
The situation underscores the challenges faced by the royal family in navigating the complex dynamics between its members while maintaining the stability and continuity of the institution. As the succession planning continues, all eyes will be on Prince William and his ability to lead the royal family through this challenging period, while the role of Prince Harry in the monarchy's future remains uncertain.
