The intricate relationship between Prince Harry and his father, King Charles III, has always been a subject of public intrigue, marked by moments of both closeness and strain.
In recent years, their relationship has gradually become more of a source of tension, especially following Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle‘s departure from royal life.
Prior to, and following, their 2018 wedding, the couple endured intense media scrutiny – particularly from the British tabloids. As such, they made a bold decision to move to California and live a more quiet existence away from the UK media circus.
Long-held tensions between Prince Harry and King Charles
In his memoir, Spare, Prince Harry wrote about a comment allegedly made by his father shortly after his birth, in which the then-Prince of Wales said to his wife, Princess Diana: “Wonderful! Now you’ve given me an heir and a spare — my work is done.”
From an early age, Harry felt a disconnect with his father, which was intensified by the stark age difference between them. While he shared a playful connection with his mother, he struggled to forge a similar bond with the future King Charles III.
Despite their differences, Charles made efforts to bridge the gap and express his love for his son. For example, he assisted his son with selecting an orchestra for his wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018. However, their relationship faced further strain when Harry and Meghan announced their decision to step down from senior royal duties in 2020, in favor of a more independent life.
Visiting King Charles
Harry wanted to stay with his father after flying to the UK for a visit in the wake of the latter’s cancer diagnosis, though reports have since said that he was denied this request by King Charles’ aides.
RadarOnline speculate that the Prince – who flew to England to see his father earlier this month for the first face-to-face meeting between the pair since the death of Queen Elizabeth – wanted the opportunity to have a heart to heart with Charles.
Instead, the meeting between father and son was cut short after just 30 minutes, with Harry then left to find accommodation for the night in London after Charles flew by helicopter to the royal estate of Sandringham.
As per reports, Harry had flown to the UK with the intention of spending time with his dad, but upon arrival in the country was advised to visit Clarence House (Charles’ London residence).
According to some sources, the Prince was of a mind to follow Charles to Sandringham and spend a few days there, but the King’s aides were worried that the visit would then turn into a prolonged stay. An insider told The Sun newspaper: “The fear was that if he went to Sandringham they would never get rid of him.”
A cruel nickname for Camilla
Prince Harry’s memoir also delves into his complex relationship with Queen Camilla, portraying her as a divisive figure within the royal family.
In fact, Harry cruelly labeled her the “other woman,” saying that: “She was the villain. She was the third person in the marriage.” Both he and his brother, Prince William, were against the idea of their father ever marrying her. “’We support you,’ we said. We endorse Camilla. Just please don’t marry her. Just be with her, Pa,’” he wrote.
He also added that, in her efforts to better her reputation within the royal family, she became “dangerous” – especially as she was close to the media.
Following the release of Harry’s memoir, sources close to Camilla indicated that she felt “hurt” by her portrayal in the book but remained committed to finding her voice in her new role.
What did you think of this story? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
READ MORE
- Prince Harry breaks his silence on King Charles’ cancer diagnosis: ‘Look, I love my family’
- King Charles returns to Sandringham after cancer treatment – photo confirms the sad truth
