A royal expert says The Firm’s philosophy of ‘never complain, never explain’ has played a large role in King Charles’s dealings with Harry, who lands in the UK this week
King Charles is approaching the end of his third year as our monarch, and his reign has been defined by a steadfast resilience in the face of significant personal and professional challenges. When he came to the throne following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on 8 September 2022, he inherited a monarchy undergoing rapid change and one that was under greater public scrutiny than ever before.
As well as having to navigate controversies within his own family – not least damaging allegations involving his younger brother, Prince Andrew, and the never-ending onslaught of accusations made by his son, Prince Harry – Charles has had to battle serious illness.
But despite ongoing treatment for cancer, he has – quite remarkably – continued to fulfil the vast majority of his duties, embarking on overseas tours to Australia and Canada, and representing the monarchy at historic public events such as May’s 80th anniversary VE Day celebrations, during which he gave a rousing and heartfelt speech, watched by Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales.
After recognising his grandfather, King George VI’s role as wartime King, Charles paid tribute to his late mother, fondly recalling how, as a 19-year-old, the then-Princess Elizabeth had “mingled anonymously” among the crowds celebrating VE Day in London in 1945. Quoting from her diary, he said, “The rejoicing continued into the next day, when she wrote, ‘Out in the crowd again. Embankment, Piccadilly. Rained, so fewer people. Conga-ed into house. Sang till 2am. Bed at 3am!’”
He then joked how, today, he wouldn’t have the energy to conga back to Buckingham Palace in the early hours. While most people battling a life-threatening condition would be forgiven for stepping out of the spotlight and taking time to recuperate in private, Charles has done the opposite, demonstrating the same unflinching dedication to royal duty as his mother.
“I think the late Queen would be incredibly proud of her son and how he has stepped up to the plate,” says royal commentator Katie Nicholl. “The way that he has made duty so central to his role, the way that he has put his country and his service to the people before himself.
“No one could have predicted that, within 18 months of his reign, he would be diagnosed with cancer. And yet he’s fulfilled his obligations as head of state. He has travelled around the world, as far afield as Australia. He’s doing the job with remarkable energy and enthusiasm and with great success.”
While Charles could often seem a little stiff and lacking in warmth as Prince of Wales, experts believe he has very much come into his own since becoming King. His openness and honesty, on 5 February 2024, when he broke royal precedent by revealing he’d been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer, sparked grave concern. But Katie believes it also did wonders for his public perception.
“I think in many ways he has earned a newfound respect, admiration and love from the public in being so open and in being so determined to continue carrying out his duties as head of state,” she says. “He’s never been more real and relatable to the British public.”
The King confessed that he had been “reduced to tears” reading all the ‘get well’ cards from fans around the globe, whilein April this year, he again showed his sensitive side when hosting a Buckingham Palace reception for representatives of community-based cancer groups, and released a poignant message of support.
In a deeply personal statement, he admitted how “daunting and at times frightening” it is to receive a cancer diagnosis, but added that, “as one among those statistics myself, I can vouch for the fact that it can also be an experience that brings into sharp focus the very best of humanity.”
He ended his speech by quoting the late Dame Deborah James, who died from the disease in 2022, urging fellow sufferers to “find a life worth enjoying, take risks, love deeply, have no regrets, and always, always have rebellious hope”.
“They were incredibly moving words,” says Katie. “I can’t recall ever hearing the King write so personally and so emotionally. It just felt like a King who is so connected with his public. I think he has turned an unenviable, difficult situation into something very inspirational and very positive – and that’s quite remarkable.”
Royal expert Phil Dampier agrees that the King has handled the turmoil of the past three years with aplomb, but feels it’s a shame that family illness, and the ongoing battles with Prince Harry, have cast such a dark shadow over his short reign.
“The King got off to a great start and took to the job like a duck to water – that’s what makes it so sad that, just a couple of years into his reign, he had this cancer battle. Because he was doing very, very well and, generally speaking, I think he’s very popular,” says Phil.
“But it’s all been clouded by the problems that have beset him – him being ill, Kate being ill. But I think Prince Harry is probably one of the biggest problems. That is unresolved and looks like it’s just going to keep going. At some point, I’m sure he would want a reconciliation with his son, before it’s too late.”
Phil’s words are particularly poignant this week as Prince Harry lands in the UK to attend the annual WellChild Awards. There are rumours that he could be about to take the first tentative steps towards reconciliation by meeting face-to-face with his father, the King, for the first time in over 18 months.
Again, it seems Charles has taken his mother’s approach to firefighting familial controversy, particularly in dealing with his estranged son. “The philosophy of ‘never complain, never explain’ is something that Charles and Camilla – and to a certain extent, William – have adopted when it comes to dealing with Harry,” says Phil.
“Despite all the brickbats he’s thrown at them, they haven’t thrown any back. I think Charles would have learned from the late Queen that these things eventually go away or pass. “That’s not to say that the rift between them isn’t bad, but I don’t think he thinks it will be improved by criticising Harry in public, which is something the Queen wouldn’t have done.”
Luckily for Charles, his wife of 20 years, Queen Camilla, has provided unwavering support, taking to her royal duties in a way that would have made her late mother-in-law extremely proud. “I think the Queen [Elizabeth] would be very pleased with Camilla,” says Phil. “After she and Charles married, she warmed to her a lot and could see her qualities.
“And I think what she would like most about Camilla today is the fact that she supports Charles – a bit like Prince Philip supported her. She’s there for him, she makes him tick, she makes him happy and without her, he wouldn’t be able to cope so well. “I think Camilla learned quite a lot from the late Queen.” Katie Nicholl agrees that, especially over the past 18 months, Camilla has proved herself more than worthy of her title thanks to the support she’s given Charles.
“When the King had to take a brief absence from public duties, it was Camilla who kept the show on the road, stepping in for the King, travelling the country, reassuring his subjects that he was doing well,” she says. “From the moment she was crowned, I think she has really lived up to – and surpassed – expectations.”
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