NewsBite

King Charles III to give bombshell interview over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle rift

King Charles is planning a rare broadcast interview, that palace experts say will air royal grievances on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, in the monarch’s latest move after Spare.

Prince Harry and King Charles composite 16:9
Prince Harry and King Charles composite 16:9

King Charles III will reportedly subject himself to tough questions about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle before the coronation in his latest move to respond to the tell-all memoir, Spare.

A day after the House of Sussex confirmed their removal from Frogmore Cottage, royal insiders revealed the King will grant a BBC interview to clear the air about his plans for the monarch before he officially takes the crown on May 6.

The King and BBC have been in secret talks for months according to royal insider and confidant of the late Princess Diana, author Stewart Pearce, who told The Sun that Prince Harry and Ms Markle will “of course” travel to the UK for the ceremony.

Prince Harry will ‘of course’ attend the coronation in May, says royal insider Stewart Pearce. Picture: Getty Images
Prince Harry will ‘of course’ attend the coronation in May, says royal insider Stewart Pearce. Picture: Getty Images

While the interview had been rumoured since the release of Spare, Mr Pearce is the first royal insider to go on the record as negotiations over the sit-down progress further.

If he follows in the footsteps of Prince Andrew and grants the interview, it would be the King’s first one-on-one since Megxit kicked off the royal racism row that has divided the House of Windsor. And despite being focused on a “manifesto” for a modern royal family, it would open the door to uncomfortable questions about his relationship with his son.

The last major royal interview on BBC, Prince Andrew, didn’t go as well as he may have hoped. Picture: Supplied
The last major royal interview on BBC, Prince Andrew, didn’t go as well as he may have hoped. Picture: Supplied

“I believe strongly, that Charles will grant another interview to the BBC, possibly with somebody like Jonathan Dimbleby, whom he trusts and likes,” Pearce said in an exclusive interview with The Sun.

“After all, 30 years ago the documentary was released, which was a very profound conversation between Prince Charles, as he was then, and Dimbleby.”

Dimbleby famously interviewed Prince Charles in 1994 for ITV, where he first admitted to cheating on Princess Diana with the now Queen Consort, Camilla Parker-Bowles.

Author and TV presenter Jonathan Dimbleby in 1994, when he interviewed then-Prince Charles. Picture: Supplied
Author and TV presenter Jonathan Dimbleby in 1994, when he interviewed then-Prince Charles. Picture: Supplied
Jonathan Dimbleby wrote the 1994 biography of Prince Charles, “The Prince of Wales: An Intimate Portrait. Picture: Supplied
Jonathan Dimbleby wrote the 1994 biography of Prince Charles, “The Prince of Wales: An Intimate Portrait. Picture: Supplied

That same year, then-Prince Charles sat down with A Current Affairs host Ray Martin and answered tough questions during the height of the debate on Australia leaving the Commonwealth to form a Republic.

Asked if he wanted to be King of Australia, he said he’s always had “great affection for Australia and Australians”.

“What is important to get across about all this debate about a republic, is that my family, or the sovereign, as a family, don’t own this place. It doesn’t belong [to us], and it’s not as if we’re making any money out of it.

“What annoys me so much about what’s written in the media … is this extraordinary idea that you’re liable to be denied the great chance to be the king of Australia, as if it was taking a toy away from a spoiled child,” he said.

“All that anybody has ever tried to do is to help, assist, and encourage, and bring people together and try to see what we could do.

“It’s up to Australians how they want it to be. It’s not up to me to decide.”

Since the 1994 media blitz, Mr Pearce said that King Charles has kept a strong connection with his BBC interviewer, Mr Dimbleby, and that he would return to the silver screen to outline his the future of the monarchy and the commonwealth based on “compassion and transparency”.

King Charles had a ‘great affection’ for Australia during his 1994 visit. Picture: The Mercury
King Charles had a ‘great affection’ for Australia during his 1994 visit. Picture: The Mercury
Front pages of the Herald Sun after Prince Charles was attacked during his 1994 tour of Australia.
Front pages of the Herald Sun after Prince Charles was attacked during his 1994 tour of Australia.

“It is a manifesto to allow the alacrity, ease, transparency and wonder of sustainable monarchy in today’s temperament,” Mr Pearce said.

“This is extraordinary, this époque making event of King Charles’ coronation …

“One of the major constituent parts of this will be creating change through compassion, parity, diversity and absolute transparency.

“In other words Charles is a future facing monarch.”

Mr Pearce said that King Charles has been working behind the scenes to achieve peace with Prince Harry and Ms Markle and have them attend the coronation, even after their eviction from Frogmore Cottage.

The royal family will “heal” thanks to peacemaker King Charles, says royal insider Stewart Pearce. Getty Images
The royal family will “heal” thanks to peacemaker King Charles, says royal insider Stewart Pearce. Getty Images

“Yes there is a lot of healing that needs to take place between the household of the Sussexes in the USA and the hegemony in the UK,” he said.

“That is the intention that is vital, alive and crucial to allow this wonderful reconnection to take place. Deep in my heart I believe this will happen.”

Mr Pearce, who grew up with the royal family and whose dad taught King Charles how to tie his tie, said the monarch is a “peacemaker at heart”.

“There is a certain amount of privy detailing that I have. And I believe categorically that Charles is reviewing the so-called breach that has been created by the departure of Harry and Meghan into a new life in the United States,” he said.

“Of course his heart is absolutely open. If anyone has read Spare you will read that Charles is always saying my darling boy to Harry. So I believe the intention is that all will be well.”

– With The US Sun

Originally published as King Charles III to give bombshell interview over Prince Harry and Meghan Markle rift

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.ntnews.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/king-charles-iii-to-give-bombshell-interview-over-prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-rift/news-story/8847bc97af6768272dc521190b47bfb0