Prince Harry and King Charles’s ‘distant’ relationship laid bare

Prince Harry’s calls and letters have gone unanswered, and King Charles is reportedly keeping his distance from the prince.

Prince Harry’s calls and letters to the King are reportedly being left unanswered (Image: LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images)

The relationship between Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and his father, King Charles III, has reached a new low, with reports emerging of a profound and painful distance between the two. Sources close to the royal family have revealed that Harry’s calls and letters to the King have gone unanswered, painting a stark picture of a father and son divided by both physical distance and emotional estrangement. This rift, which has been simmering since Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped back from their roles as senior royals in 2020, appears to have deepened in recent months, leaving many to wonder if reconciliation is even possible for the once-close pair.

At the heart of this latest chapter in their strained relationship is Harry’s ongoing legal battle over security arrangements in the UK. Last week, the Duke was at the Court of Appeal in London, where he argued that he had been “singled out” for “unjustified and inferior treatment” following a 2020 Home Office decision to downgrade his security protection after he ceased being a working royal. Harry and his allies believe that King Charles could intervene to ensure that his son’s security needs are met, particularly given the high-profile nature of the Sussexes’ public life and the threats they have faced since moving to Montecito, California. However, palace sources, as reported by The Telegraph, have made it clear that the King cannot interfere in matters before the court, especially when they involve his own family. This stance has left Harry feeling increasingly isolated, with his pleas for support seemingly falling on deaf ears.

The timing of Harry’s visit to the UK last week further underscores the growing chasm between him and his father. While the Duke was in London for the appeal, King Charles embarked on a state visit to Italy, leaving no opportunity for the two to meet. Following his court appearance, Harry traveled to Ukraine, a trip aligned with his ongoing commitment to the Invictus Games, before returning to the US. The lack of a face-to-face meeting during this visit is particularly poignant given the King’s ongoing health challenges. Charles was diagnosed with cancer in February 2024, a revelation that prompted Harry to fly to the UK for a brief meeting with his father shortly after the announcement. That encounter, described as a “short meeting” by palace sources, appears to have been the last time the two saw each other, with no further updates provided to Harry about his father’s condition or prognosis.

This lack of communication has only deepened the sense of estrangement between Harry and Charles. A palace source told People magazine, “I don’t think there is any rapprochement,” a sentiment echoed by another insider who described the relationship as “distant.” The King’s decision to keep Harry at arm’s length is reportedly motivated by a desire to avoid being drawn into discussions about security, a topic that has become a lightning rod in the Sussexes’ ongoing tensions with the royal establishment. Harry has long believed that the reduction of his state-funded security in 2020 was a calculated move to pressure him and Meghan into returning to the royal fold—a theory that has fueled his determination to fight the decision through the courts. His recent appearance at the Court of Appeal, where he expressed feeling “exhausted and overwhelmed,” highlights the emotional toll this battle has taken on him.

The roots of this rift can be traced back to the seismic events of 2020, when Harry and Meghan announced their decision to step back from royal duties and relocate to the United States. The move, dubbed “Megxit,” was driven by the couple’s desire for financial independence and freedom from the relentless scrutiny of the British press. However, it also marked the beginning of a significant deterioration in Harry’s relationships with his family. His 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, where Meghan revealed that a member of the royal family had expressed concerns about the color of their unborn son Archie’s skin, sent shockwaves through the monarchy, with Charles reportedly feeling “deeply hurt” by the allegations. Harry’s 2023 memoir Spare further exacerbated tensions, as he detailed a physical altercation with his brother, Prince William, and recounted a lack of emotional support from Charles following the death of Princess Diana in 1997. In one particularly heartbreaking passage, Harry described how Charles failed to hug him after breaking the news of Diana’s passing, a moment that left a lasting scar on the young prince.

Since then, communication between Harry and his father has become increasingly strained. Reports indicate that Charles no longer answers Harry’s calls or responds to his letters, a stark contrast to the early days of Harry’s marriage to Meghan, when Charles played a supportive role. The King famously walked Meghan down the aisle at their 2018 wedding, stepping in for her estranged father, Thomas Markle, and reportedly took on a mentorship role, educating Meghan about royal history and offering her a warm welcome into the family. However, the events of the past five years have eroded that bond, leaving both father and son in a state of emotional limbo.

The lack of updates about Charles’s health adds another layer of sadness to this story. The King’s cancer diagnosis in 2024 was a significant moment for the royal family, prompting a brief reunion between Harry and his father. However, the fact that Harry has not been kept informed about Charles’s condition since that meeting suggests a deliberate effort to maintain distance. This is particularly striking given the health challenges faced by other members of the royal family, including the Princess of Wales, who also underwent cancer treatment in 2024. Harry’s absence from family gatherings and his inability to connect with his father during such a difficult time highlight the depth of the rift that now separates them.

Public reaction to this ongoing saga has been mixed, with some expressing sympathy for Harry’s plight and others criticizing his approach. On X, users have debated the issue, with some arguing that Harry’s decision to air his grievances publicly has irreparably damaged his relationship with the royal family. One user, @RoyalWatcherUK, wrote, “Harry can’t expect the King to intervene when he’s taken every opportunity to criticize the family. Actions have consequences.” Others, however, have shown compassion for the Duke, with @SussexSupport stating, “It’s heartbreaking to see Harry so isolated. The royal family should be supporting him, not pushing him away, especially during the King’s illness.”

As the rift between Harry and Charles continues to widen, one cannot help but feel a profound sense of sadness for both men. For Harry, the distance from his father represents not only a personal loss but also a reminder of the life he left behind when he chose to step away from the monarchy. For Charles, the inability to connect with his younger son during a time of personal hardship underscores the challenges of balancing his role as a monarch with his duties as a father. Whether this divide can ever be bridged remains uncertain, but for now, the story of Prince Harry and King Charles is one of heartbreak and missed opportunities—a royal relationship laid bare by distance, both physical and emotional.