In a surprising twist in the ongoing saga of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s post-royal life, King Charles is reportedly expressing his discontent with their continued use of their royal titles while pursuing a celebrity lifestyle in America. This revelation has sparked a heated debate about the late Queen Elizabeth II’s stance on being a part-time royal.
According to reports by The Express on Friday, October 6, 2023, Renowned royal expert Tom Quinn, author of “Gilded Youth: An Intimate History of Growing Up in the Royal Family,” has shed light on the situation. Quinn claims that both King Charles and his eldest son, Prince William, share the view that Harry and Meghan cannot selectively participate in royal events.
“The whole emphasis between King Charles and Prince William is that you cannot go against the late Queen’s firm belief that you can’t be a part-time royal. You can’t hobnob with celebrities in America for six months and then come back here and pick and choose which events you want to be part of – it is untenable. I don’t think Charles and William will agree to that simply because Elizabeth hated the idea,” Quinn remarked.
This controversy follows the recent release of the Netflix docuseries “Harry and Meghan,” which has brought to light more details about the couple’s decision to step back from their royal duties and relocate to California. In the fifth episode of the series, Prince Harry revealed the tensions that arose during a pivotal summit at Sandringham in January 2020, where senior royals convened to discuss his and Meghan’s future roles.
Harry admitted that he felt “terrified” when Prince William expressed his anger during the meeting, even alleging that his name was added to a statement denying William’s involvement in his departure from the royal family, which he described as a “lie to protect my brother.”
The documentary also featured Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, who discussed her daughter’s mental health struggles in the face of relentless media scrutiny and criticism. Ragland disclosed that Meghan had contemplated taking her own life to escape the relentless media attention, recalling the heartbreaking conversation: “She said, ‘Mommy, I don’t want to live anymore.’ And I said, ‘What do you mean? You don’t want to live anymore?’ She said, ‘I just want it to stop. I just want it to stop.’ And I said, ‘Baby, it will stop.'”
Meghan herself expressed her efforts to make the royal family proud but felt she was “fed to the wolves” by the tabloid media. She also accused some members of the royal family of racism, alleging that concerns were raised about her son Archie’s skin color before his birth.
As expected, the documentary has ignited a wide range of reactions from viewers and commentators, with some applauding Harry and Meghan for their candor and others criticizing them for airing their grievances in the public eye. Notably, the Prince and Princess of Wales and Buckingham Palace have chosen not to respond to any claims made in the series, leaving the public to ponder the intricate dynamics within the royal family.
This latest episode in the ongoing drama surrounding Harry and Meghan raises fundamental questions about the role of royals in contemporary society. Can one truly balance a celebrity lifestyle with royal duties, or are the two fundamentally incompatible? King Charles’ displeasure seems to suggest that the royal family remains committed to preserving its traditions and values, even in the face of the changing dynamics of the modern world.
