King Charles is said to be deeply wounded by the criticism levelled against the Palace by his youngest son, Prince Harry, and his wife, Meghan Markle, in their recent Netflix documentary. Despite the pain, sources close to the monarch insist that his love for Harry remains paramount and that he has not abandoned hope of mending the rift within the royal family.
The Palace has maintained a dignified silence in response to the documentary and plans to continue that approach when Harry's memoir, Spare, is published in the new year. Insiders have made it clear that the King does not wish to strip Harry and Meghan of their titles and that a meeting may eventually take place to heal the divide ahead of his coronation in May.
“The hope is that once the dust has settled the family will be able to move on and put the past behind them,” a Palace source said. The source added of the King: “He loves both his sons and hope springs eternal for a happier future all round. If some can stop fixating on the past.” When asked about the possibility of an olive branch, they said: “Let’s see how things evolve.”
Royal author Christopher Wilson commented: “Imagine the hurt feelings of The King today. He has lost a son twice over - as a beloved member of his family, and as a valuable member of Team Windsor. That Harry has cast himself out, and done his best to trash the first months of his father’s reign, is unforgivable. But you’re left with the overwhelming belief that, despite all, Charles still loves Harry and would welcome him back into the fold.”
The documentary has sparked calls for the couple to be stripped of their Duke and Duchess titles, with a OnePoll survey commissioned by the Express showing 62% of respondents believe they should relinquish them. However, sources close to the King have indicated he will not support MPs seeking to remove titles from any family member, and Downing Street has confirmed that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is also opposed to such action.
