Prince Harry’s feud with his father King Charles has gone from bad to worse following Harry’s extraordinary outburst in a BBC interview – and now palace insiders have revealed one of the reasons why the monarch is unlikely to make first move in repairing their rift
Palace insiders have revealed one of the key factors that could be stopping King Charles from making the first move in reconciling with estranged son Prince Harry. The feud between father and son is believed to have gone from bad to worse in recent weeks after Harry gave an explosive interview to the BBC after losing another court battle over his security arrangements in the UK.
In that interview, he confirmed that things had got so bad between him and his father, that the King, who is still having cancer treatment, will not speak to him and he does not know “how much longer my father has” left. It comes after Harry railed against his family in his memoir Spare, where he criticised his father, branded his stepmother Queen Camilla dangerous and claimed older brother Prince William physically attacked him.
Some have suggested that if father and son are to get their relationship back on track, it should be the King to reach out and make the first move. However, a palace insider has told PEOPLE magazine one of the reasons why this has not been the case so far – and they claimed it is because those around the King have not “encouraged reconciliation”.
According to the publication, William has shown “no interest” in repairing the rift, Camilla “stays out of it” while even the King’s most personal aide, private secretary Sir Clive Alderton is “unlikely to push for a personal outreach”.
Respected royal correspondent and author Valentine Low told PEOPLE of Charles: “There is not a good angel in his ear to say, ‘Be a good dad and make the first move’.” Talking about Harry’s bombshell BBC interview, he added: “It wasn’t meant to be an attack, but it would be seen as one. It makes Charles reach out even harder.”
In his bombshell interview after losing his security case at the Court of Appeal, Harry admitted: “Of course, some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book. Of course, they will never forgive me for lots of things.”
And speaking previously to the Mirror, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine Ingrid Seward, said any apology from Harry for his actions in the past will be a long time coming, despite his plea for reconciliation.
She said: “By now Charles is used to Harry’s disloyalty and contradictions. But what he will not be prepared to put up with is his youngest son’s stubborn conviction that he is always right. Harry’s ego is so fragile he thinks the world is against him. He refuses to take responsibility for his actions. If he wants reconciliation, why does he still attack his family?
“If he did say sorry to his father and those he has hurt, he would be admitting he was wrong. Harry has such a weak sense of self he appears incapable of doing this. Harry’s stubbornness will almost certainly prevent him from bringing his wife and children to the UK. At least in the immediate future.
“He said he realised he had upset the ‘family’ but never once offered to apologise. The King knows this. But he also understands that under Harry’s accusatory exterior, he is extremely vulnerable.”
As King, Charles needs total trust. He is head of state and monarch and that has to come first as Charles vowed at his Coronation. He will be very sad it has come to this. But if he can’t trust Harry, he has to avoid him until such time things change. If they ever do.”
