King Charles III publicly acknowledged only one of his sons-Prince William-during a high-profile state banquet at Windsor Castle this week, a move widely interpreted as a deliberate snub to Prince Harry amid their ongoing estrangement.
The event, hosted in honor of visiting French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte on July 8, featured a speech from the 76-year-old monarch highlighting his eldest son's role in the monarchy's future. "The Castle in which we meet this evening was begun by my ancestor, and your sometime countryman, William, Duke of Normandy, in the year 1070," Charles said. "It remains the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, so it is perhaps rather appropriate that my son, The Prince of Wales, who shares that earlier William's name, has made Windsor his home with his family, like so many of our predecessors."
The omission of Prince Harry, who relocated to California in 2020 with wife Meghan Markle after stepping back from royal duties, was not lost on royal observers. The banquet was attended by Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Kate, and other senior members of the royal family.
The latest display of royal distance comes as Prince Harry continues to press for security protections in the United Kingdom. In a recent interview with the BBC, Harry stated, "I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point." Following a legal defeat in his battle to restore taxpayer-funded security, the Duke of Sussex said he was "devastated... not so much as devastated with the loss that I am about the people behind the decision, feeling as though this is okay. Is it a win for them?"
Harry has also alleged interference by the royal establishment in the court's decision, calling the outcome a "good old-fashioned establishment stitch up." A source told RadarOnline.com, "He is the one who left the Royal Family for a new life in America. He now wants the perks of the job without the work."
The divide between the brothers appears equally entrenched. A source close to the royal household stated that when Prince William ascends the throne, Harry's children-Archie and Lilibet-"won't have roles, titles, or royal responsibilities. He doesn't want any lingering ties to the Sussexes."
The estrangement extends beyond the palace. According to RadarOnline.com, Prince Harry has reportedly been emotionally affected by a cooling friendship with actor John Travolta. An insider said, "When Harry found out John was growing close to Sam [Asghari], it really threw him. He doesn't have an issue with Sam personally-it just made it painfully clear that John still makes time for others, just not for him anymore."
During a recent appearance at the NEXUS Global Summit in New York City, Harry remarked on his departure from royal life: From "being born into a life of service to discovering his own purpose." He urged attendees to "tackle the systems instead of the symptoms keeping us down," in remarks widely interpreted as another veiled critique of the institution he left behind.
