Prince Harry faces increasing isolation from the royal family as King Charles and Prince William have chosen to "ignore" and "freeze out" the Duke of Sussex during a critical time for the monarchy, according to royal author Christopher Andersen.
The strained relationship between Harry and his royal relatives has further deteriorated in recent years, following his and wife Meghan Markle's decision to step back from the royal family in 2020 and the subsequent controversial comments and admissions made in interviews and Harry's 2023 autobiography, "Spare."
Speaking to Fox News, Andersen, author of "The King: The Life of Charles III," stated, "[Charles and William] have chosen to ignore Harry, to freeze him out, and to not let him get under their skin when they are facing so many 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." The author's comments come amidst the King and Princess Kate's ongoing battles with cancer, adding to the challenges faced by the royal family.
Andersen also claimed that Charles and William are "not surprised" by Harry's recent trip to Nigeria alongside Meghan, which has been likened to that of a royal tour. However, the author suggested that the reasons behind the royal family's decision to "cross Harry off their list" go beyond the couple's brief trip with a small entourage of one reporter and one photographer.
The strained relationship between Harry and his father was further highlighted during the Duke's recent visit to the UK to celebrate a decade of the Invictus Games. Despite being in the same city, Harry and Charles did not meet face-to-face, with the King's "full programme" of engagements cited as the reason for their lack of interaction. The last time the father and son physically spoke was when Harry visited Charles following his cancer diagnosis earlier this year.
Similarly, Prince William and Princess Kate did not meet with Harry during his brief stay in the UK. Insiders close to the couple told The Daily Beast last month, "Both sides understand each other's position clearly now. William and Catherine felt completely betrayed by Harry's memoir. They don't speak to Harry and Meghan, and they are certainly not about to start when Catherine is at her most vulnerable." Another source added, "William and Kate have accepted it and moved on. Cancer puts things in perspective. William respects his father's wish to reconcile with his son, but his focus now is on protecting his family from stressful situations."
The Sussex's recent trip to Nigeria has also drawn criticism from some royal experts, who claim that the couple "exploited their royal status to the very limit and in every way, trying to give the impression that it was the real thing," according to Michael Cole (via Daily Mail). While the visit was not an official royal tour sanctioned by Buckingham Palace or the British government, Cole suggested that the couple's actions during the trip conveyed a sense of officiality that would leave them "well satisfied with their three days in Nigeria."
In response to these criticisms, Andersen noted that Harry and Meghan have "significantly scaled back their entourage" and are "taking pains not to appear as if they are overstepping their bounds." The author expressed hope that the royal family's current united front in ignoring the Sussexes would not last forever and that either William or Charles would eventually be "courageous and far-sighted enough to take the olive branch Harry repeatedly extends to them."
Andersen further suggested that reconciling with Harry and offering his family a "legitimate part-time royal role" could be beneficial for the monarchy, providing a "huge shot in the arm" as they navigate multiple health issues among senior royals and require additional support.
