King Charles is finding it increasingly difficult to forgive his son, Prince Harry, for the criticisms leveled against the royal family, particularly those aimed at Queen Camilla, as detailed in Harry's memoir, "Spare." According to royal biographer Christopher Andersen, the King's inability to move past Harry's remarks may permanently strain their relationship.
"I think people have to realize that the one thing that Charles finds unforgivable is criticism of Camilla," Andersen told Fox News. He emphasized that Prince Harry’s portrayal of Camilla as the "villain in the piece" remains a significant sore point for the King. “I think that still bothers the King, and I don’t know that it will be easy for him to forgive. I don’t think they’ll ever forgive Harry for that,” Andersen added.
The friction between Prince Harry and the royal family has been exacerbated by his decision to leave royal duties and move to California with his wife, Meghan Markle, in 2020. This move, coupled with the revelations in "Spare," has only widened the gap between Harry and his family.
Harry's memoir recounts his father's wedding to Camilla and his complex feelings about gaining a stepmother. "I had complex feelings about gaining a stepparent who, I believed, had recently sacrificed me on her personal PR altar. In a funny way, I even wanted Camilla to be happy. Maybe she’d be less dangerous if she was happy?" he wrote. Harry's remarks have reportedly left Camilla furious and heartbroken. A source close to the situation revealed that Camilla was particularly upset by the allegations made in Harry's docuseries and book.
Further complicating matters is King Charles' ongoing battle with cancer. According to sources, Queen Camilla is keen on limiting Harry’s interactions with the King to prevent any additional stress. "Camilla dislikes Harry and doesn’t want Charles to get stressed while he’s undergoing treatment, so she tries to limit interaction,” a source claimed. Despite this, Charles is said to be holding out hope of salvaging their relationship, though he remains deeply conflicted because of the hurt Harry has caused both William and Camilla.
Royal commentator Lizzie Cundy criticized Harry for his absence on Father's Day, especially given his father's health challenges. Speaking to GBN America, Cundy remarked, “I thought it was very poignant that Prince William sent this beautiful post. It shows the bond they still have and the respect he has for his father, and there’s Harry, very noticeably absent."
Cundy added, “This is a 75-year-old man suffering with cancer, going on with all his duties. You just think, ‘Wow, this man is absolutely incredible’, he is everything Harry isn’t." She further criticized Harry's behavior as beyond reproach, noting that his failure to publicly acknowledge his father on Father's Day was unforgivable.
Christopher Andersen echoed these sentiments, noting that King Charles finds the criticism of Camilla particularly hard to bear. "Harry said some pretty devastating things about her," Andersen told Fox News Digital. This ongoing tension casts a shadow over the potential for reconciliation between father and son.
The strained relationship between King Charles and Prince Harry also impacts the King's relationship with his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet. The King longs for a closer bond with them, akin to the one he shares with Prince William’s children. However, security issues and the Sussexes’ lack of a permanent residence in the UK make frequent visits challenging.