King Charles has reportedly sent a subtle message to Prince William about managing strained family relationships, as royal experts suggest. This hidden communication allegedly came through King Charles' decision to include his younger brother, Prince Andrew, in the Royal Family's Christmas celebrations, despite Andrew's controversial past. The gesture is seen as a potential lesson for Prince William on forgiveness, particularly in relation to his ongoing rift with Prince Harry.
Prince Andrew, embroiled in numerous scandals, made a surprising appearance at the Christmas Day service at Sandringham. He was accompanied by his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, marking her first Christmas with the royal family since 1992. This inclusion, according to royal commentator Robert Jobson, was less about Prince Andrew and more about sending a message to Prince William regarding his estranged relationship with Prince Harry.
"Perhaps the King is subliminally trying to show William that forgiving one's brother and giving him a second chance is a strength, not a weakness," Jobson wrote in the Daily Mail. He added, "Prince William disagrees - and as far as he is concerned, there is no way back for his brother."
The backdrop to this familial tension dates back to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to step back from their royal duties and relocate to California. This move, followed by a series of revealing interviews, a tell-all memoir, and a Netflix documentary, has deepened the divide between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family.
In his memoir, "Spare," Prince Harry expressed his embarrassment about showing Meghan their modest home, Nottingham Cottage, which starkly contrasted with Prince William and Princess Kate's lavish 20-room Apartment 1A in Kensington Palace. This disparity in living conditions reportedly added to the tension between the couples.
Jobson's biography, "Catherine, Princess of Wales," details how Meghan was surprised by the opulence of William and Kate's residence compared to their own. "I am not saying Meghan was jealous, but she was surprised at how lavishly Harry's brother was living compared to where they were living. It was perhaps the beginning of all the tensions between the couples," Jobson quoted a close source.
The speculation surrounding the Sussexes' potential attendance at Sandringham for Christmas 2023 was fueled by reports of a "warm" phone call between Prince Harry and King Charles. However, Prince Harry reportedly felt "irritated" upon learning that Prince Andrew was included in the Christmas broadcast while he was not.
Adding to the complexity, recent reports suggest that Meghan Markle has no plans to return to the UK. According to insiders, Meghan remains focused on her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, and a new Netflix cooking show. "She's got way too much on her plate with the brand and her new cooking show, as well as looking after the kids," a source told Closer. "The last thing she needs is the stress of going back to the UK, where she fears she'd be heckled again in public, which she finds incredibly painful."
The strained relations between the royal siblings were further highlighted during a rare public event in 2022. At the service of thanksgiving for the late Queen at St. Paul's Cathedral, Prince William and Prince Harry were seated far apart and did not interact. Body language expert Judi James noted that William adopted a "barrier gesture" as he walked past Harry, signaling a lack of acknowledgment.
