Prince Harry believed that King Charles would eventually “forgive him” and make amends for the perceived hurt he has suffered, according to royal expert Tom Quinn.
However, this expectation seems to have backfired, leaving the rift between father and son as wide as ever, with no reconciliation in sight.
Quinn, author of Scandals of the Royal Palaces: An Intimate Memoir of Royals Behaving Badly, notes that the distance persists due to differing expectations between Charles and Harry. The monarch is reportedly “filled with horror” at the possibility of Meghan Markle writing a personal memoir, with Harry potentially contributing. This comes after the publication of Harry’s book Spare in January 2023, which he revealed had much more content that had to be cut.
Charles is said to be “privately furious” over Harry’s refusal to bring his children, Archie and Lilibet, to the UK. Quinn told The Mirror: “Despite all his criticisms, Harry always assumed he would be forgiven by his father. He thought Charles would make amends for the hurt that justified the criticisms.”
In February, Harry lost his High Court challenge regarding the downgrading of his taxpayer-funded police protection and intends to appeal. Experts suggest he may travel alone to the Invictus Games in Birmingham in 2027.