The relationship between Prince Harry and King Charles has undeniably changed over the years, especially after Harry shared his experiences in the royal family, culminating in the release of his memoir Spare. This strained bond took a significant hit following Harry’s revelations.
However, despite the ongoing feud, it was surprising when King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Kate Middleton publicly wished Harry a happy 40th birthday recently. Yet, according to a royal expert, even birthdays have now become a point of tension in their fractured relationship.
In the past few years, Harry has made only a few trips to the UK, and hasn’t always met with his father on these occasions. As Harry is set to attend the WellChild Awards in the coming days, reports indicate that he and the King won’t be meeting during this visit. The reason for this distance between them is both poignant and heartbreaking.
Historically, Charles and Harry weren’t always at odds, though Harry has suggested that there were issues from the start. In Spare, Harry recalls his father joking that with his birth, he finally had his “spare,” hinting at Harry’s role as a backup to Prince William.
Looking forward, reconciliation seems unlikely, though many hope the situation might change, especially for the sake of Harry’s children, Archie and Lilibet. King Charles, reportedly heartbroken at not being able to see his grandchildren, may find common ground with Harry in wanting to build a relationship with them. Jennie Bond, a former BBC royal correspondent, has suggested that the children could be key to healing the rift between father and son.
Bond notes, “The children may provide the most compelling link between Charles and Harry and could encourage both to move past their differences, even if they can’t entirely forget the past.” She also hopes that Harry does not follow Meghan Markle’s example of staying estranged from her own family.
Royal expert Ingrid Seward shares a similar view, emphasizing how important family is to Charles. Having experienced a somewhat fragmented childhood, he’s saddened by the limited contact with Archie and Lilibet. According to Seward, Charles is determined not to rely solely on FaceTime to connect with his grandchildren; he wants to be present in their lives while they’re still young enough to benefit from his wisdom.
Yet, despite Charles’ desire to be involved, communication between him and Harry remains sparse. Emily Andrews, a royal commentator, claims that Charles now avoids taking Harry’s calls, as they often center around the prince’s ongoing legal battles regarding security. This reluctance stems from concerns that their conversations might be leaked to the press, as has happened in the past.
Still, in a rare moment of connection, Charles and Harry reportedly had a positive phone call on Harry’s birthday, and Charles remains hopeful that their relationship might improve. Royal expert Katie Nicholl revealed that Charles wants to stay informed about Harry’s life, especially his children, but he remains cautious due to past breaches of trust.
Birthday messages from Charles and Camilla, as well as from William and Kate, took many by surprise. However, birthdays have become a sensitive topic within the royal family. For example, when Harry called Charles on his 75th birthday, details of their private conversation were leaked, which deeply upset the King. This has only added to Charles’ hesitance in sharing too much during their interactions now.
In fact, royal expert Rebecca English has explained that while Charles is still open to calling his son, he’s careful about what he says, knowing that their conversations could become public.
Charles’ hurt runs deep, but as English pointed out, he is still Harry’s father, and he isn’t ready to completely sever ties. Despite the pain, the door to reconciliation remains open, even if only slightly.
One of the most personal leaks involved a video Harry and Meghan sent to Charles of Archie and Lilibet singing happy birthday. This was meant to be a private, intimate moment, but its exposure was another sore point for the King.
Since then, Harry and Charles haven’t met in person. The last time was reportedly earlier this year, after Charles’ cancer diagnosis, though their meeting was brief and strained. As Harry prepares for his upcoming UK visit, hopes for a reunion remain slim. Charles is scheduled to be in Edinburgh to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament during Harry’s visit, making a meeting between the two unlikely.
A royal source revealed that while discussions about a potential meeting are ongoing, conflicting schedules and Harry’s brief visit make it improbable. Even though nothing is set in stone, the possibility of a father-son reunion doesn’t seem promising for now.
