(Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Niall Carson)
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry once blindsided King Charles III with a last-minute decision that left him feeling deeply “crushed,” according to royal insiders. At the time, Charles, then the Prince of Wales, was in the midst of a vital diplomatic tour in the Gulf, where he was meeting the King of Bahrain.
The tour, meticulously planned for months, was intended to strengthen international relations and boost the royal family’s media coverage. However, Harry and Meghan’s public announcement overshadowed the tour entirely. According to royal biographers Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand in Finding Freedom, Harry gave his father only 20 minutes’ notice before releasing a statement confirming his relationship with Markle.
The announcement not only confirmed their relationship but also included sharp criticism of the press for its intrusive coverage of Markle. The timing of the statement, as reported by Mirror, completely hijacked the news cycle, drawing attention away from Charles’ diplomatic efforts.
The book describes Charles’ reaction as deeply disheartened:
“It was a critical moment that had been in the works for months. A statement from Kensington Palace condemning the Press and, in the same breath, confirming Harry’s new girlfriend would all but eliminate coverage of Prince Charles’s tour of the Gulf. The team at Clarence House, which had spent months putting together Prince Charles’ tour in the hopes that it would be covered significantly, was crushed.”
As per Express, Harry’s motivation for the sudden announcement stemmed from his desire to protect Markle from the relentless media scrutiny. This pivotal event marked the beginning of tensions between Harry and his father, leading eventually to the Sussexes’ exit from royal duties. Harry, increasingly defensive of Markle, reportedly distanced himself from friends and allies who he suspected of gossiping about their relationship.
In his memoir Spare, Harry also revealed how race influenced the public’s harsh judgments of Markle, fueling his determination to shield her. Fast forward to the present, relations between Harry and his father remain strained. While Charles reportedly empathizes with the pressures Harry faced during that time, Harry’s subsequent interviews airing grievances against the monarchy have further eroded trust.
With the holiday season approaching, reports suggest that the Sussexes are unlikely to receive an invitation for Christmas. Despite the rift, Charles, who faced a cancer scare earlier this year, is said to wish for reconciliation and hopes to see Harry’s children, longing for a closer bond with them.This incident, emblematic of the growing divide between Harry and the royal family, continues to be a point of contention in their strained relationship.
