Prince Harry ‘directly asked’ by King Charles not to publicly share any more family details
“Going to be consequences”: With their relationship reportedly still heavily strained, Charles issued a demand of his youngest son.
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King Charles has “directly” requested his son not divulge any further private details about their family as the pair reportedly attempt to rebuild their relationship.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left royal duties in 2020 and have since lifted the lid multiple times about their grievances during their time within the monarchy, specifically outlining their personal issues with the King, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Kate, the Princess of Wales.
The couple is now largely estranged from his family, although it’s been widely reported Harry and Charles have kept lines of communication open, despite their tension.
Speaking to the UK’s Mirror, royal author Tom Quinn revealed that the King had issued a firm directive to his son, telling him to “stop publicly complaining”.
“Harry has been asked directly by his father not to write or say publicly anything further about the family or his brother that might cause trouble, and everyone knows that when a king asks you to do something there are going to be consequences if you do not obey,” Quinn told the publication.
“Over the years that Harry has complained about his treatment by his family he has had just one aim – to get an apology and to see his father and brother make amends.
“Harry just can’t see that complaining in private might work; complaining publicly just makes things worse and in Harry’s case that means more and more ties to his past being severed.”
Harry’s most damaging allegations, spread across his 2021 Oprah interview, the Harry & Meghan docu-series on Netflix, and his memoir, Spare, saw the King painted as an often-distant parent, with William as hot-headed and the instigator of a physical fight between the brothers over Meghan, Kate as a cold and unwelcoming figure and Camilla as “dangerous” in her quest for a PR rehabilitation.
William and Kate are no longer on speaking terms with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
While it’s believed the relationship is better between the King and his son – with the duke even flying back to the UK to see his father after his cancer diagnosis was announced in February – Harry was said to be devastated that his attempt to catch-up with Charles was rejected last month.
Harry spent two days in London, within just a few kilometres of the King, during the 10th year anniversary celebrations of the Invictus Games.
Amid heavy speculation about whether or not the pair would meet in the days leading up to his arrival, Harry’s spokesman released a statement on their plans, explaining the monarch’s program was too “full” to allow for it.
While outwardly diplomatic, the 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.
At the time, Quinn claimed that Harry had privately found the public snub “painful”.
“He was deeply shocked at his father’s blunt refusal to see him even for a moment,” he told the 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.”
Originally published as Prince Harry ‘directly asked’ by King Charles not to publicly share any more family details