The bond between Prince Harry and the Royal Family remains frayed, with little indication of any forthcoming amends. It’s been four years since the Duke of Sussex bid adieu to his royal duties, and he hasn’t shied away from criticising his kin during this time.
From shocking TV interviews to revelations in his tell-all memoir ‘Spare’ which hit shelves last year, Harry has certainly raised eyebrows and worsened strains within the Windsor household.
All of this has resulted in a trust deficit with his relatives, even though his father, King Charles, appears willing to mend their relationship. But with the King’s birthday approaching, the royals may feel cautious about opening up to Harry.
As Charles prepares to celebrate his 76th birthday on November 14, memories of his previous birthday where things did not go as privately as hoped could be on their minds.
Last year, as Charles turned 75, he was reportedly on the receiving end of a call from Harry, coupled with an adorable video from his grandchildren Archie, aged 5, and Lilibet, aged 3, singing ‘Happy Birthday’. Unfortunately, particulars of this apparently intimate conversation found their way into the headlines, leaving Charles disenchanted, reports the Scottish Daily Express.
Daily Mail’s Royal correspondent Rebecca English revealed inside opinions stating this incident “was considered to have crossed a line”. A confidant expressed their dismay to the publication, questioning the privacy of such moments: “A deeply private call between the King and his grandchildren and it ends up in a newspaper the next day. Really?”.
The source of the leak remains unclear, but it appears not to have originated from the King’s camp. Archie was born in 2019 when Harry and Meghan were still residing in the UK, while Princess Lilibet was born in 2021.
It is thought that Charles has only met her once in person, during their visit to the UK for the late Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations. The Royal Family is wary of any discussions with Harry being made public after he revealed details of private conversations in Spare.
English reported that Harry was not informed about his father’s cancer battle until the news was imminent, and he received no prior warning about Kate Middleton’s diagnosis. With the King’s birthday just around the corner, it remains to be seen whether Archie and Lilibet will send a similar message.
Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily Showbiz newsletter here.