King Charles has promised to spend time getting to know Prince Harry's kids and becoming an active part of their lives, a new report claimed.
The monarch, who has been undergoing cancer treatment since February, has expressed his dissatisfaction with only having video chats with his children, Archie, who is five years old, and Lilibet, who is two years old, since he has met them so few times. On Lili's birthday, he sent her a "heartfelt gift and card," and now he wants to do more to be involved.
The 75-year-old King, who was in Normandy last week for D-Day commemorations, is reportedly "keener than ever" to devote himself to his family and responsibilities, as well as "make up for lost time" following the reduction in engagements prompted by his diagnosis, The Mirror reported.
After leaving the royal family in 2020, Prince Harry, 39, and his wife Meghan, 42, and their children now reside in Montecito, California. A series of high-profile interviews—including Prince Harry's incendiary memoir “Spare” (2023), a 2022 Netflix miniseries, and an interview with Oprah in 2021—have strained relations with the royal family.
The King has been in an introspective mood, according to those closest to him, and he sees the close relationship he has with Prince William's three children as a blessing. Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 5, all describe him as a "fantastic and enthusiastic grandpa," according to unnamed sources. His resolve to make more of an effort to see his other grandchildren is reportedly influenced by his 76-year-old wife, Camilla.
“The King is absolutely committed to being present in all of his grandchildren’s lives. He values family above everything and whatever the course of his relationship with his son he would never be content with just seeing his grandchildren on the odd video call,” the anonymous insider stated.
Prince Harry hurried back to the United Kingdom to see his father once he received the news of his illness. But even though Harry traveled over 5,000 miles to be with his father, they only spent 30 minutes together.
“I love my family. The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him, I’m grateful for that,” Prince Harry told ABC News days later.
“Family has always been important to the King. He remembers his own somewhat fragmented childhood as his parents were always busy doing their duty. It is a great sadness to him he doesn’t see more of Archie and Lilibet,” Ingrid Seward, author of “My Mother and I – The Inside Story of the King and Our Late Queen,” said.
“That is why he will never break ties with Harry. He does not want a FaceTime relationship with his son’s children. He wants to know them and be involved with their lives while they are still young enough to be able to learn from his wisdom. His cancer has made it all the more poignant to him as he knows that he won’t be around for ever,” the royal author added.
Business Times has reached out to King Charles for comments.
