King Charles is reportedly too fearful to confront Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, leaving the royal couple free to continue expressing their grievances against the House of Windsor, according to palace insiders.
Royal biographer Tom Bower reports that the 74-year-old monarch is "paralyzed by fear and indecision" when it comes to handling the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, according to National Enquirer. As a result, the attention surrounding his May 6 coronation is at risk of being overshadowed by the publicity-driven couple's ongoing attacks.
"Charles will do anything to avoid a confrontation with Harry and Meghan," shares a high-level courtier. "He's downright terrified! But by dithering, he's exposed his huge weakness — he hates tackling problems head-on."
The courtier suggests that King Charles should have taken a more authoritative stance against the couple's numerous allegations and provocations since their departure from royal life in 2020. Instead, he has chosen to avoid conflict by inviting Harry, 38, and Meghan, 41, now living in California, to his coronation.
However, this concession has only led to further demands from the Sussexes, according to the courtier. "They're said to be demanding an official role in the ceremony for their kids, Lilibet and Archie, who celebrates his fourth birthday on Coronation Day," the insider reveals. "I hear the couple wants a place on the Buckingham Palace balcony, usually reserved for working royals, which the Sussexes no longer are."
King Charles finds himself in a difficult position. If he concedes to Harry and Meghan's requests, he risks losing the respect of the British people and members of his own family who no longer trust the couple. If he refuses, the Sussexes may continue to publicly criticize the royal family and portray themselves as victims.
"Charles may have good reason to fear his son since Harry teased he might write a second no-holds-barred book after the success of his memoir, Spare," the insider says. "But that's exactly why he should take charge and put an end to the Sussex sideshow once and for all."
King Charles notably avoided meeting with Harry during the prince's surprise visit to London's High Court last month, where Harry is suing a publishing company for invasion of privacy. Although King Charles' official visit to France was postponed, he claimed to be "too busy" to see his son and instead remained at his country estate Highgrove with Queen Consort Camilla before traveling to Germany.
Bower warns that King Charles is on a "dangerous path," saying, "Talk of reconciliation is a mirage. Harry and Meghan will settle for nothing less than total capitulation and victory."