King Charles’ Crushing 4-Word Response When Asked About Prince Harry
It is rare that King Charles publicly speaks about his relationship with his estranged son, Prince Harry. He adheres to the royal motto, “Never complain, never explain” when it comes to addressing the royal family’s personal relationships. However, Charles did utter a four-word response to a question by someone who requested Harry be brought back into the royal fold.
Prince Harry’s royal family absence caused King Charles to respond in this way
King Charles visited the University of East London for its 125th anniversary in February 2023. He was scheduled to open its hospital and training hub and unveil a plaque.
Express reported that Charles was met by university students during the visit. As he mingled with onlookers, a man shouted, “Bring back Harry, please. Can you please bring him back, please, Sir?”
Charles asked aloud, “Who?” The man replied: “Harry, your son.”
The king’s response? “It would be nice.”
King Charles and Prince Harry reportedly remain estranged
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle opted out of royal life after being married only two years. The couple, who wed in 2018, wanted out of their royal duties by March 2020.
They released a statement published on Instagram. It reads, “After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.”
However, this decision came with a cost for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Subsequently, the couple became estranged from the king and other senior royals.
By March 2021, Harry told Oprah Winfrey, “When we were in Canada, I had three conversations with my grandmother and two with my father before he stopped taking my calls.” By September 2022, relations between family members remained estranged as Harry and Meghan Markle returned to England for Queen Elizabeth’s funeral.
Despite rumors that father and son were mending their relationship, Harry continued to speak poorly about royal life in a Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan, and his book Spare. King Charles subsequently evicted Harry and Meghan from their Frogmore Cottage home.
Will Prince Harry and King Charles ever reconcile?
Royal author Robert Hardman has reported that a reconciliation will not happen anytime soon. There appear to be too many burned bridges between father and son.
However, Harry did fly to the United Kingdom earlier this year when King Charles revealed a cancer diagnosis. He met with his father for less than a half hour before flying back to California.
To Express, Hardman said, “It’s not what Harry said, it’s the fact that he said it, and he gave away so many secrets. And he was, effectively, at the time of the Queen’s death, you know, he was taking notes.”
Hardman continued, “There he is; he’s got two sons, one he hardly sees, and two grandchildren he’s barely ever seen, and yes, I think he would like some sort of modus vivendi. Clearly, they can’t come back to royal life. I don’t think they want to. And, after all that’s happened, it wouldn’t work.”
“I thought it was telling that when the cancer diagnosis came through back in February, Prince Harry came straight over. People asked why he didn’t stay longer and why he didn’t talk to his father. I mean, there is so much to be worked through, but this was absolutely not the moment to have some sort of summit with Harry about all of Harry’s grievances.”
He concluded, “But I think the fact he came was important, the fact he was received was important; I think what encouraged people at the palace and encouraged the king was that afterward, we didn’t read about it or hear about it. It remained private.”
Prince Harry resides in Montecito, California, with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
