The rift between Prince Harry and the royal family appears to be deepening, with King Charles and Prince William reportedly having "crossed Harry off their list" and frozen him out, according to royal expert Christopher Andersen. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently returned from a three-day trip to Nigeria, which had all the markings of a traditional royal tour despite the couple visiting the West African country "in a private capacity."
Andersen told Fox News that Charles and William have chosen to ignore Harry and not let him get under their skin as they face critical challenges. "In a way, I think that is even sadder. It's been said that hate isn't the opposite of love - indifference is," he added. The royal expert noted that the King and Prince William are not surprised when Harry makes trips abroad, even when accompanied by his wife, Meghan Markle.
The Sussexes' trip to Nigeria, where Markle referred to the nation as "my country," has reportedly confirmed the worst fears of Harry's family. Author and royal expert Tom Quinn told the Mirror that the visit made Prince William and King Charles "absolutely furious," with Charles said to be "angrier than anyone has ever seen him." Quinn pointed out that the trip had all the elements of an official royal visit, including receptions, visits to schools, charities, wounded soldiers, and the disabled.
During their visit, Markle co-hosted a Women in Leadership event with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director general of the World Trade Organization, and expressed that it was "eye-opening" and "humbling" to learn more about her heritage. The couple received over 20 gifts, which they were able to keep since they are no longer working royals.
Andersen observed that the Sussexes traveled with a small team, consisting of one reporter and one photographer, instead of a big group. He explained that Harry and Meghan have significantly scaled back their entourage and sought to make their appearances abroad seem as informal and unofficial-looking as possible, taking pains not to appear as if they are overstepping their bounds.
Despite the positive headlines generated by the couple's trip to Nigeria, Andersen speculated that the royal family will avoid discussing the Sussexes altogether. "Right now, the royal family is united in its determination to act as if Harry and Meghan don't exist," he said, expressing hope that this stance won't last forever and that either William or the King will be courageous enough to take the olive branch Harry repeatedly extends to them.
Andersen suggested that finding a legitimate part-time royal role for Harry and his family could be a huge shot in the arm for the monarchy at a time when the royals need all the help they can get. However, he acknowledged that at the moment, the situation is not looking good.
The optics of the Sussexes' trip could confuse royal watchers, according to Quinn, who noted that the couple's speeches and attitude have been designed to give the impression that they are still fully paid-up royals, much to the displeasure of William and Charles. "For Charles and William, it's as if Meghan and Harry are saying, 'We don't need your permission to be working royals - we will do it on our own terms whenever and wherever we like,'" Quinn explained.
