Prince Harry’s ‘carefully crafted’ statement speaks volumes for his relationship with his father, King Charles, according to royal experts
Prince Harry’s recent visit to the UK has sparked renewed hopes of reconciliation with his father, King Charles.
While the Duke of Sussex did not meet the monarch during his brief stay in May, a carefully worded statement released by Harry’s spokesperson suggests that the door to future meetings remains open, and there may be hope for mending relations within the royal family. Earlier this year, Prince Harry spent three days in the UK, primarily attending the prestigious Invictus Games event at St Paul’s Cathedral.
Despite his proximity to Buckingham Palace, Harry did not reunite with King Charles, who has been undergoing treatment for cancer. Harry’s team said the monarch’s full schedule prevented a meeting. The Duke’s spokesperson commented: “It unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full programme. The Duke, of course, understands his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.”
This statement, while straightforward, was interpreted by royal commentators as a subtle message to the King. Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show, Newsweek’s Chief Royal Correspondent, Jack Royston, highlighted the care with which the statement was crafted. “It was a very delicately worded statement, and Harry isn’t always delicate.”
Royston said: “Sometimes he’s a bit of a bull in a china shop, but this was actually probably perfectly worded. It [the statement] said just enough so that we all knew that it was Charles who had prevented the meeting or at least the palace side that had prevented the meeting, and that Harry had wanted to meet his father but it also did keep the tone warm and positive. So he said basically due to his schedule, but also got in there ‘and other priorities’.”
He continued: “But Charles did, in Harry’s view, clearly have some other priorities but Harry didn’t put the boot in, he didn’t put venom in the statement. He just made sure that people knew that he had wanted the meeting, and that it was the palace side who had stopped it from happening.”
The visit earlier this year marked Harry’s first time back in the UK since his father resumed public duties after starting cancer treatment. The strained relationship between Prince Harry and other members of the royal family remains evident.
Harry did not meet with his brother, Prince William, who has remained distant since their last public appearance at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral. Tensions between the brothers were further exacerbated by Harry’s tell-all memoir, Spare, and the controversial Harry & Meghan Netflix documentary.
Following his whirlwind UK visit, Harry travelled to Nigeria with Meghan Markle for a three-day trip. Despite the challenges facing Harry and his family, this recent message gives hope that a royal reconciliation may still be possible, according to experts.