Although relations between the Sussexes and the Waleses are clearly strained, the interactions between King Charles III, Prince Harry, and even Duchess Meghan have warmed up. In a new interview with People, Bazaar royal editor-at-large Omid Scobie explained where things currently stand for the monarch and the couple.
“A striking difference between Charles and William when it comes to their relationships with Harry is there is still a warmth with Harry and Charles,” he told the outlet. “With Harry, there’s a reluctant acceptance that this is just who his father is.”
When it comes to his father, Scobie said Harry “would rather have that in his life than to cut it off completely. Hence, when they talk, it is often [Harry] reaching out.”
As for Meghan’s relationship with her father-in-law, the line of communication has cracked open. Scobie revealed, “I was surprised to learn that even Meghan has some sort of correspondence with Charles, sending over photos of the children [Prince Archie, four, and Princess Lilibet, two], although they’re not directly to him. So there is a willingness there.”
Despite occasionally communicating with each other, the king did not invite the couple to his 75th birthday party, which took place at Clarence House last night.
Earlier this month, the Sunday Times alleged that Harry declined an invitation to the king’s birthday festivities, but a Sussex source soon after refuted those claims. “In response to U.K. media headlines, there has been no contact regarding an invitation to His Majesty’s upcoming birthday,” the insider told Bazaar. “It is disappointing the Sunday Times has misreported this story.”
Samir Hussein//Getty Images
Scobie’s forthcoming book, Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy’s Fight for Survival, details the growing rift between Harry and older brother Prince William, with the brothers’ relationship deteriorating even further following the release of the Sussexes’ Netflix docuseries and Harry’s tell-all memoir, Spare.
“There’s a huge amount of anger there,” a source told Scobie in an excerpt published by People. “[William] feels betrayed and sad about the situation. But he also doesn’t agree with the things his brother feels he has done. He feels he has lost Harry and doesn’t want to know this version of him.”
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As an associate editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com, Chelsey keeps a finger on the pulse on all things celeb news. She also writes on social movements, connecting with activists leading the fight on workers' rights, climate justice, and more. Offline, she’s probably spending too much time on TikTok, rewatching Emma (the 2020 version, of course), or buying yet another corset.
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