Prince Harry has disclosed a previously unreported disagreement involving Prince William and Princess Kate during the Easter celebrations that preceded his departure from the Royal family. Currently, he is in the UK for ongoing legal proceedings regarding his security arrangements.
Harry's situation is further complicated by the fact that he did not meet with King Charles during his recent visit, which coincided with the monarch's trip to Italy. The likelihood of a reunion with the Waleses, including his nephews and niece—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—remains dim, even though the children are currently on school break.
Since stepping away from royal duties in January 2020, the Sussexes, Harry and Meghan Markle, have been vocal in their criticisms of the Royal family, recounting their experiences during high-profile interviews, including their discussion with Oprah Winfrey and revelations made in Harry's memoir, "Spare".
In the memoir, Harry reflects on a family gathering in June 2018, when he and Meghan invited William and Kate to Nottingham Cottage in an effort to ameliorate the tensions that had arisen between Meghan and Kate. Harry stated, "For 10 minutes we did the classic small talk. How are the kids? How was your honeymoon?" He continued, noting a conversation initiated by Meghan about the initial misunderstandings that contributed to the family rift. He recounted Meghan's comment that they had gotten off on the wrong foot, which was exacerbated by the pressures surrounding their wedding, specifically mentioning "those infernal bridesmaids' dresses".
However, Harry revealed the discussion took an unexpected turn when it was brought to light that William and Kate had been upset over the absence of Easter gifts, stating, "Easter presents? Was that a thing? Willy and I had never exchanged Easter presents." He added that their father, King Charles, had always made a significant effort surrounding the holiday, but he emphasised an apology was given if it had upset William and Kate.
Furthermore, the memoir touches on another grievance between the brothers involving Harry's wedding. He expressed displeasure regarding seating arrangements at his ceremony, claiming that William and Kate had rearranged place cards and separated couples at their table, diverging from the American tradition they had followed, which seated couples together.
The estrangement between Harry and his family appears to have severely widened over time. It has been reported that Harry has not seen his father in person for the last 14 months, despite both being in close proximity on occasion. Harry, now 40, arrived at London Heathrow on a recent Sunday, whereas King Charles, aged 76, was in London undergoing postponed cancer treatment prior to his trip to Italy.
Harry is currently appearing in the Royal Courts of Justice to challenge the removal of his UK security arrangements. He is seeking to reinstate state-backed security for himself and his family during their stays in the UK, privileges lost upon his decision to step back as a working member of the Royal family.
Last February, he faced a legal setback when Mr Justice Lane ruled against him in a legal dispute with the Home Office, deeming the Royal and VIP Executive Committee's decision rational and procedurally sound. Nonetheless, his legal counsel, Shaheed Fatima KC, maintains that Harry has been subjected to "different, unjustified and inferior treatment." Moreover, she asserted that Harry and Meghan felt “forced” to abandon their royal responsibilities due to inadequate protection from the Royal institution itself.
Source: Noah Wire Services