King Charles changes tactic with Prince Harry: ‘End of tether’

“Taking a harder line”: The King is reportedly changing course when it comes to his son after years of tension between the pair.

King Charles has reportedly reached “the end of his tether” with his youngest son after years of enduring a public rift.

The King and Prince Harry have been at odds since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s departure from official duties – and the UK – in favour of a more private life in California back in 2020.

The couple has since lifted the lid on their gripes with the royal institution - as well as Harry’s family - causing huge issues between themselves and Charles, Queen Camilla, and Prince William and Kate, the Princess of Wales.

While it’s been widely reported that the King remains open to reuniting with his son, and the pair has shared sporadic communication and a brief in-person meeting in February, he’s fed up with Harry’s refusal to compromise, according to the UK’s Mirror.

“Charles feels he has made huge effort to repair his relationship with his son, but that Harry refuses to give an inch. With that in mind Charles is changing his tactics,” royal author Tom Quinn told the publication.

“The new plan is to take a harder line with Harry; a move from good cop to bad cop, but palace insiders agree that Charles is at the end of his tether. He wants to be reconciled with his son, but nothing he does seems to work.”

He added that the issue could stem from Harry’s childhood.

“One underlying problem is that Harry was never really that close to his father as a child – looked after by staff and shunted between Diana and Charles, Harry has always looked lost and forgotten and it’s too late now for his father to do anything about it,” Quinn explained.

King Charles and Queen Camilla during an official engagement on Wednesday. Picture: Jordan Pettitt-WPA Pool/Getty Images

Harry made a brief return to London earlier this month. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Invictus Games Foundation

Last week, the UK’s Telegraph reported that Harry rejected an invitation from the King to stay at a royal residence during his brief visit to the UK.

The duke’s three-day return to his home country for Invictus Games events generated plenty of headlines earlier this month – with a particular focus on whether or not he would be catching up with his father.

In a bid to quash speculation, Harry’s spokesman released a statement at the time, confirming that he had requested a meeting with the King, but had been turned down as his week’s schedule was “full”.

According to the Telegraph, the US-based duke had actually been offered accommodation at an undisclosed royal lodging, but turned it down due to security concerns.

The publication reports that the visibility of the entrance and exit on the royal property without police protection caused an issue for Harry, who instead opted to stay at a hotel, which allowed more privacy.

Harry and Meghan in Nigeria. Picture: Kola Sulaimon/AFP

However, had he taken up his father’s offer, the pair’s long-awaited catch-up may have been more easily scheduled.

It was also recently reported that Harry was left devastated by his father declining the invitation to meet up, especially as “everyone knew the real reason”.

While outwardly diplomatic, his statement made it clear that it was the King who had been either unable or unwilling to alter his schedule to see his son, with whom the relationship has been heavily strained in recent years.

Harry had privately found the public snub “painful”, it was later claimed.

“He was deeply shocked at his father’s blunt refusal to see him even for a moment,” Quinn told the UK’s Mirror.

“This time the rejection was particularly painful because it was so public – Harry may have issued a statement saying he completely understood why his father didn’t have time to see him, but everyone knows the real reason had nothing to do with busy schedules.”

Within days of Harry departing the UK, a report emerged that the King had avoided the meet up in order to dodge “the drama” associated with his youngest son.

“He doesn’t need the drama in his life,” the Daily Mail’s Richard Eden claimed a source close to the King told him.

“Harry and Meghan have brought him, and the rest of the family, nothing but worries over the past few years.”

Originally published as King Charles changes tactic with Prince Harry: ‘End of tether’