King Charles' refusal to engage in a public war of words with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may prove to be the most effective strategy of his reign, according to an opinion piece by Alicia Liberty.
Last week, reports emerged that King Charles had opened the doors of Highgrove for a long-awaited reunion with Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and his grandchildren. While the meeting dominated headlines, it was what happened afterwards that caught attention.
Changing the Narrative
Once upon a time, every Sussex story came with an inevitable second act. Buckingham Palace would announce an engagement, a state visit or a major royal milestone, only for the conversation to swing straight back to Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44. The monarchy often found itself trapped in a seemingly endless cycle where every headline about the Royal Family eventually became another episode in what was beginning to feel like The Sussex Show.
That, however, feels to be changing. Since succeeding Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles appears to have adopted a different approach to managing one of the monarchy's most difficult family dynamics.
Forget the late Queen's famous mantra of "never complain, never explain". Charles' version appears to be something altogether simpler: never react, never reward.
Restraint Over Reaction
It isn't flashy. It certainly doesn't generate Netflix-worthy cliffhangers. But that's exactly the point. Rather than allowing every headline to spiral into yet another royal psychodrama, Charles, 77, has quietly refused to feed into the melodramas, choosing instead to let the monarchy's work speak louder than the latest family subplot.
The crown is once again dominating headlines for the work it is doing rather than the rows it has endured. While plenty of factors have contributed to that shift, King Charles does not get nearly enough credit for steering the conversation back towards the institution instead of the individuals who chose to leave it.
A Consistent Approach
It has not happened overnight, and it certainly has not happened because every problem has magically disappeared. Far from it. The King has continued carrying out constitutional duties while undergoing cancer treatment, and navigated difficult family relationships, booting his brother out of Royal Lodge and dealing with enough constitutional headaches to test the patience of a saint.
Throughout it all, there has been one consistent approach. Restraint. Not exactly the most fashionable quality in 2026, but perhaps that's why it stands out.
For years, there has been enormous pressure on Buckingham Palace to respond publicly to the allegations and criticism levelled by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Every interview sparked demands for a rebuttal. Every documentary prompted predictions that this would finally be the moment the Palace hit back. It never really came.
Instead, the King appears to have recognised a simple truth: not every ball bowled at you deserves to be hit back. Sometimes the most effective response is to leave it sailing harmlessly through to the wicketkeeper.
Reclaiming the Narrative
The monarchy increasingly feels defined by what it does rather than by what someone else says about it. That represents a remarkable shift from the years immediately following the Sussexes' departure.
Perhaps what has been equally fascinating is the contrast in public communications. Meghan has built a carefully curated Instagram presence, regularly sharing polished photographs and behind-the-scenes glimpses of projects and overseas visits. This time, however, nothing. The post-trip Instagram carousel never arrived. The behind-the-scenes video didn't materialise. It has almost felt like a media blackout.
Of course, there could be countless reasons for that, and only Meghan knows why she has chosen not to post. But for someone whose social media has become part of the storytelling, the silence has been almost as noteworthy as the trip itself.
An Understated Achievement
In my view, this may prove to be one of King Charles' most understated achievements. He has not tried to win every argument. He has not attempted to answer every criticism. Instead, he appears to have focused on something infinitely less exciting but considerably more effective: allowing the monarchy to speak through its work while keeping family conversations where most families would rather keep them - behind palace walls.
For years, there were moments when royal coverage threatened to become less State Opening of Parliament and more Keeping Up With the Windsors. That may have generated clicks, but it never did the institution any favours.
Charles seems to understand something rather old-fashioned: not every private disagreement deserves a public audience. And perhaps that's why his approach resonates.
Most families have tensions. Many have estrangements. Almost all have that one relative who dominates Christmas lunch. Very few, thankfully, have Netflix cameras waiting outside. The King cannot change the past. He cannot rewrite interviews, documentaries or memoirs. What he can do is quietly change what comes next. And, whether by design or simply by persistence, that's exactly what he's beginning to achieve.
