Prince Harry, once confident that his strained relationship with King Charles would eventually mend, now finds himself facing a harsh reality. According to royal experts, the rift between father and son has only widened, leaving little hope for reconciliation. Despite Harry's belief that his father would forgive him for the public criticisms and accusations he has made, the situation has only grown more complicated, with King Charles reportedly filled with "fury" and refusing to engage with his younger son.
The Duke of Sussex, along with his wife Meghan Markle and their children, Archie and Lilibet, has been living in Los Angeles since the couple stepped down from their royal duties in 2020. Harry's memoir, Spare, published in January 2023, unleashed a series of bombshell revelations that shook the royal family and deepened the divide between the Sussexes and the rest of the monarchy. Despite the fallout, Harry reportedly believed that his father would eventually make amends for what he perceives as the hurt inflicted upon him by the royal family.
Royal author Tom Quinn, who wrote Scandals of the Royal Palaces: An Intimate Memoir of Royals Behaving Badly, suggests that Harry expected his father to be the one to initiate reconciliation. "Despite all his criticisms, Harry always assumed he would be forgiven by his father," Quinn told The Mirror. "He thought Charles would make amends for the hurt that, in Harry's view, justified the criticisms."
However, instead of reconciliation, the distance between them has only grown. King Charles, who has reportedly not seen his grandchildren through Harry and Meghan for over two years, is said to be "privately furious" and has stopped taking calls from his son. Quinn notes that the monarch's refusal to engage is partly driven by his anger over Harry's refusal to bring his children to the UK, a decision that has further strained their relationship.
The tension between Harry and the rest of the royal family has been exacerbated by a series of public statements and media appearances. The Sussexes' tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, their Netflix documentary, and Harry's memoir all contained allegations of racism, neglect, and family feuds. These revelations have made any potential reunion between Harry and his family increasingly difficult, especially as the king reportedly expects an apology from his son-a gesture that Harry and Meghan believe should come from the royal family instead.
Adding to the strain is the possibility of more revelations from the Sussexes. While Harry has stated that he had to cut many parts out of Spare and has enough material for another book, there are concerns within the royal family that Meghan might be the next to pen a memoir. Royal commentator Ingrid Seward has speculated that Meghan could be preparing to write her own story, which could further damage the already fragile relationship between the Sussexes and the royal family. "I can't see that Harry's up for writing another book," Seward told The Mirror. "I would think the other book, the real corker, would be Meghan's."
The prospect of a memoir from Meghan has reportedly left King Charles "filled with horror," adding to the monarch's reluctance to engage with his son. The idea of more public criticism from within the family has only solidified Charles' stance, leading to what some describe as a stalemate between the king and his younger son.
Royal commentator Robert Jobson offered insights into why King Charles might be avoiding calls from Harry, suggesting that the king is simply overwhelmed by the demands of his new role and personal health issues. "He's got too much on his plate," Jobson said on The Daily Mail's Palace Confidential podcast. "He's been not well at all and he's been dealing with that. He's only just become the King, he's got too much to deal with, rather than dealing with Harry's constant demands."
Reports indicate that King Charles has been receiving treatment after being diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, adding another layer of complexity to the strained relationship. The last reported meeting between Harry and his father took place in February at Clarence House, during a brief solo trip by Harry back to the UK following the public announcement of the king's health issues.
