LIZ JONES: Why Prince Harry is NOT to blame for his ongoing family feud with Charles and William
Speaking to People magazine this week, a source close to Prince Harry has revealed that his calls and letters to the King go unanswered. Indeed, the pair ‘are distant’. Most shocking of all is that Harry only hears news of his father’s health through the media.
Father and son last met in person over a year ago following Charles's diagnosis, and that was a brief, if private, meeting (it has since been confirmed Camilla was not in the room). It must have been humiliating for the once ‘darling’ boy.
Part of the reason for Charles’s froideur is Harry’s current unedifying fight in the courts for his UK security to be upgraded; his own, privately-funded bodyguards are not allowed to be armed when here.
Why this would anger Charles? Yes, his State visit to Italy was pushed off the front pages last week by images of his son striding warrior-like and painfully lonely into court.
But it seems odd for the King to object to his son’s claim because, if he wins, Harry has indicated he and his family would visit Britain more often. Any father would welcome that. Particularly one who is head of the Church. It has been claimed that Charles cannot forgive Harry for comparing Camilla to a wicked stepmother in his memoir, Spare. But you don’t put a woman before your own child, surely?
A ruling is expected over the next few weeks, but could Charles not have greased the wheels of Harry’s bid for security. This makes Charles look unyielding and - if he cannot overrule the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (the body that decides on the levels of security) - powerless and weak. He might not want Harry here, but many do. Charles seems cold, a killjoy, unable to move on.
The King has been trained to be a diplomat since birth, to set an example, yet it seems he cannot extend a hand of friendship to his son? Is he worried that a note, or a kind word, will make it into the public sphere via his loquacious second-born? Perhaps, but surely a photo opportunity showing a hug, a handshake, would speak volumes.
Harry is currently fighting the UK courts to have his security upgraded, as his own bodyguards are not allowed to be armed when in his native country
Harry's brother, Prince William, is also giving him the cold shoulder since his Spare came out
Even a warm post on social media would cause us to breathe a collective sigh of relief. And, given the accusations of bullying, mismanagement and ‘misogynoir’ swirling around Harry’s charity, Sentebale, perhaps now is the time to give Harry some seasoned advice from experts who have been fire-fighting scandal for the Royals for years. But no, the prince has been thrown to the wolves, apparently.
There is no hand of friendship being extended by William, either. If he can forgive his father’s historic indiscretions - in 1994 he confessed to infidelity in a televised interview with Jonathan Dimbleby - surely he can forgive his brother for that Oprah interview and writing a memoir, however candid.
Does he fear his and Kate’s life will be made a living hell, or that the Wales family will be overshadowed by the Sussexes? I think the latter. He must realise that high-profile visits from Harry and Meghan, Archie and Lilibet in tow, would enliven our interest and affection for the Royal Family. It would certainly be more fascinating, glamorous and fun than being drip-fed badly shot photos of Kate in a baker boy cap talking to Scouts on a windswept hillside.
The lack of trust in Harry from the Palace is remarkable. Again, if the King had any real intention to lead by example, he could overrule his lily-livered minions, put safeguards in place, show leniency.
Isn’t a life-threatening disease supposed to put petty squabbles and past hurt into perspective? Harry is clearly trying - his fight to feel safe in his own homeland is a clear cry for reconciliation. It’s natural to want to show off his family here. An unearthed letter showed the late Queen wanted Harry to have 'effective security' even after he and Meghan left as working royals.
King Charles with Queen Camilla at Clarence House in London. His Majesty has not met his youngest son in over a year and Harry only hears news of his father's health through the media
Could a cornered Harry lash out in desperation? As People magazine reports, he is ‘exhausted and overwhelmed’, ‘shocked’ by what he claims has been held back in court. He wants to ‘get under the bonnet and fix’ what is broken. I fear his fingers are about to be squashed.
All things aside, family matters. What will the cousins - Archie and Lilibet, and George, Charlotte and Louis - think when they are old enough to appreciate the bickering that kept them apart?
To quote the lyricist Hal David, ‘What the world needs now is love’. And Charles, we need it ASAP.
