King Charles Shows Warmth to Harry and Meghan, Rift With William Unlikely to Mend, Claims Royal Expert
Omid Scobie, journalist known for his proximity to the Sussexes, suggests a thawing of relations with the King but a permanent estrangement between the brothers.
King Charles III has developed a "warmth" towards Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, but the rift between Prince Harry and his brother, Prince William, is unlikely to be resolved, according to royal expert Omid Scobie. Scobie, a journalist who has been described as a "cheerleader" for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, stated in a new Disney+ documentary that relations between Charles and the Sussexes have improved, with the "iciness" having thawed.
However, Scobie expressed a less optimistic outlook on the relationship between the brothers. "With William, I don't see it will ever change," he said in the documentary, titled 'Harry & Meghan: The Return of the Prince.' He also addressed the potential role of Catherine, Princess of Wales, in mediating the fraternal conflict, noting that she "has very little to do with that relationship between the brothers."
The documentary features commentary from various royal experts and commentators, including Erin Hill, senior editor at People magazine. Hill suggested that behind the scenes, William and Catherine are adopting an "old-school royal approach" of "keep calm, carry on, do the job," indicating that Harry and Meghan are "not a priority for them, and they're very much looking to the future."
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down as working royals in 2020 and moved to the United States. Their return to the UK has been a topic of discussion, with speculation about the reasons for their relocation ranging from a desire for their children to have a closer relationship with their grandfather to Meghan's potential return to acting.
Recent events have also highlighted ongoing tensions. Harry and Meghan reportedly moved their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lili, to a new school after experiencing issues with traffic and security during the school run at their initial institution. Additionally, a letter authorized by King Charles was circulated to government stakeholders, reiterating that the Sussexes are "private citizens," a move that reportedly caught the couple by surprise. Harry and Meghan are said to prefer the term "public figures."
Meanwhile, the 30th anniversary of Princess Diana's death has brought renewed attention to the Royal Family. The serialization of a book about Diana by Earl Spencer included allegations against King Charles. Buckingham Palace responded to these claims, stating that "the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason."
Prince Harry has been active in the United States, attending several engagements, including a speech on artificial intelligence at the Clinton Global Initiative. He also participated in events related to his sustainable travel initiative, Travalyst, and other forums. This U.S. trip followed three engagements in the UK, his first since his return to Britain, including attending the Invictus Spirit Awards, launching an education program, and participating in the WellChild Awards. Meghan has not accompanied him on these recent U.S. or UK engagements.
'Harry & Meghan: The Return of the Prince' is available for streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.