Father-Son Relationship Deteriorated: King Charles III Allegedly Stops Communication with Prince Harry, Aiming for Potential Reconciliation in Future
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Prince Harry is in a tough spot with his dad, King Charles, as the two men haven't spoken for a while, and Harry isn't optimistic about returning to the UK with his family following a recent court ruling.
In a candid interview with the BBC, Harry acknowledged being "devastated" by the court's decision, which he claims makes it impossible for him to return to Blighty with Meghan and their children. He admitted that the king "won't speak to me because of this security stuff."
The dispute centers on the security arrangements for the prince and his family. After stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Harry's state-funded protection was withdrawn, leading to a protracted legal battle to restore it. A recent court decision, though, strengthened the rift, with Harry accusing the establishment of a "good old-fashioned stitch-up."
Harry spoke to the BBC from his new Californian digs, where he's been living with Meghan and their kids, Archie and Lilibet, since his move stateside in 2020. Previously, interviews like this were uncommon for the royal fam. But Harry and Meghan made waves in 2021 when they dropped a bombshell on Oprah, where Meghan revealed she contemplated suicide as a working royal. They also shared concerns from the royal family about Archie's skin tone.
The case Harry lost was deeply personal to him. He expressed how crucial it is for him to ensure his family's safety when they visit the UK. "The only thing I've been asking for throughout this whole process is safety," he said. And as it turns out, that seems like an uphill battle right now.
Harry also brought up a sense of history repeating itself, frequently drawing comparisons between the treatment of Meghan and his late mother, Diana. The Princess of Wales met her tragic end in 1997 after a high-speed car crash in Paris, pursued by paparazzi.
Harry sighed that currently, it is "impossible" to bring his family to the UK. "I can't see a world in which I'd be bringing my wife and children back to the UK at this point," he admitted.
He addressed the long-standing feud between him and the royal family, mentioning numerous disagreements, especially concerning his police protection – the "sticking point." Harry expressed his desire for reconciliation amid all the drama.
However, the publication of Harry's book "Spare" in 2023 widened the rift in the family, as it reopened old wounds with scathing revelations about royal life. Later that year, Harry made a brief appearance at his father's coronation, sitting with his uncle Prince Andrew in the third row of the service.
Amidst the drama, Harry expressed a desire to repair his relationship with the king, who was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer last year. "I don't know how much longer my father has," he added. "It would be nice to reconcile."
This story has been updated with new developments
CNN's Max Foster contributed to this reporting.
Enrichment Data:The on-going rift between Prince Harry and King Charles III centers on security arrangements and publicly aired grievances, with recent developments exacerbating tensions:
Security Dispute
Prince Harry’s legal battle to restore taxpayer-funded security for himself, Meghan Markle, and their children in the U.K. remains a key conflict. After stepping back from royal duties in 2020, his state-funded protection was withdrawn, prompting a prolonged legal fight. A recent appeal loss (May 2, 2025) deepened the rift, with Harry accusing the establishment of a "good old-fashioned stitch-up" and stating he wouldn’t bring his family to the U.K. under current conditions.
Communication Breakdown
Harry claims King Charles has refused to engage with him over the security issue, leaving their relationship "distant." Despite Harry’s attempts at reconciliation through letters and calls, the King has not responded, partly due to constitutional constraints that prevent him from intervening in legal matters.
Public Criticism and Health Concerns
Harry’s recent BBC interview drew backlash after he remarked, "I don’t know how much longer my father has," which critics called inappropriate given Charles’ cancer diagnosis. The interview, seen as airing private grievances publicly, reportedly frustrated the King and highlighted conflicting approaches to resolving family disputes.
- Prince Harry, in the conversation with BBC, voiced the desire for reconciliation with King Charles amidst the persistent disagreements regarding security arrangements, eligible for taxpayer funding.
- The feud between the two maintains a focus on the safety of the prince's family, as Harry expressed his aim to protect them when visiting the UK, now seemingly an uphill battle.
- Harry's recent interview from California clarified that he found it impossible to bring his family back to the UK due to unresolved security concerns and a perceived "stitch-up" by the establishment.
- As the rift deepens, the entertainment sphere, often attentive to celebrity families, confronts this story of discord and relocating royals, while also covering policy-and-legislation and general news.
- Critics have questioned Harry's sensitive approach to personal matters, such as referencing King Charles' cancer diagnosis during the interview, potentially widening the gap between the two and raising questions about the propriety of such statements within royal etiquette.
