Prince Harry’s reluctance to return to the UK with his wife Meghan Markle has been a topic of ongoing debate, with safety concerns at the forefront of his reasons.
In a recent ITV documentary, Harry detailed his fears about the dangers posed to his family, citing specific threats that he believes make it too risky for Meghan to travel back to his homeland.
Yet, as Harry continues to voice these concerns, a close confidant of King Charles has accused him of using these fears as a tactical manoeuvre to achieve his security demands.
According to this source, Harry’s insistence on staying away from the UK and withholding his children from meeting their grandfather is seen as an emotional strategy aimed at pressuring the King into meeting his demands.
“Harry has lost his security case in court, and is now trying the emotional blackmail route to get what he wants instead, cynically using the threat of Archie and Lilibet never meeting their grandfather again as a tactic to coerce the king into overruling Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC),” the friend told The Daily Beast.
“The idea that the security forces are going to allow the Sussexes to be attacked by an acid-throwing or knife-wielding maniac on British soil is absurd, and Harry knows it. Using it as leverage, as a reason to withhold his kids from their grandfather, is beyond contempt.
“I wonder, when they are older, how those kids will feel about being denied a meaningful relationship with the King of England. To deprive them of that experience, with all its importance and heritage, seems very misguided. Of course he wants to see them, but if you force Charles to choose between his duty to the Crown and his personal feelings, he will choose the Crown every time—just as his mother did.”
The depth of King Charle’s anguish when it comes to the distance between himself and his grandchildren was touched upon by royal commentator Michael Cole in a recent interview with GB News.
“[The King is] painfully aware that time is precious and regrets that he cannot be closer to his grandchildren Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet,” Cole explained.
“It is not just the 5,000 miles between Clarence House and California that keeps the monarch at a distance from his youngest grandchildren.
“The antipathy between Prince Harry and his wife Meghan and the Royal Family has created a deep divide that makes normal family relationships so fraught as to be almost impossible.”
The rift between Harry and Meghan and the rest of the Royal Family, along with the ensuing turmoil, began when the pair stepped away from their royal duties in 2020, signalling a major shift in the traditional dynamics of the Monarchy. The move was driven by the pair’s desire for a more independent and private life, distancing themselves from the intense media scrutiny that had been a constant presence in their lives.
The decision was accompanied by revelations in a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, where the couple candidly discussed their struggles within the royal institution. The interview shed light on the challenges they faced and strained relationships within the family, sparking widespread public discussion.
Since stepping back, Prince Harry’s ties with the Royal Family have remained strained. While the odd public appearance here and there has hinted at attempts at reconciliation, the distance remains palpable.