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When King Charles visited Stratford University in East London recently to celebrate their 125th anniversary, he was asked an unexpected question by one of the attendees. As the new monarch greeted students and supporters during his visit, one man shouted "Please bring Harry, could you please take him back sir?". At first, King Charles did not hear what was said and asked the man to repeat himself. Upon hearing that the question was about his son Prince Harry returning to England, the king nervously replied "That's wonderful".
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This brief interaction provides insight into the current relationship between King Charles and Prince Harry. It has been well documented over the past few years that tensions have arisen between the two following Harry's decision to step back from royal duties and move to the United States with his family. While the king's public response was polite, his demeanor suggests the topic of Harry's return remains uncomfortable.
The challenges first began in 2020 when Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle announced they would be stepping back as senior working royals. They cited a desire for greater financial independence and to spend more time abroad. This prompted them to relocate with their young children Archie and Lilibet to California. Since moving overseas, reports have emerged of a growing rift between Harry and his father, as well as other members of the royal family.
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While Harry did return to the UK in April 2022 to attend his grandfather Prince Philip's memorial service, their reunion was said to be very formal with little meaningful conversation. Tensions were also high earlier this year as Harry worked to secure police protection for his family during visits. His legal battle over this issue further strained relationships back home.
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More details of the breakdown in communication between King Charles and Prince Harry have also recently come to light. In his new book "The New Royals", royal biographer Robert Jobson claims that when relations first began deteriorating, the late Queen Elizabeth and then-Prince of Wales stopped accepting Harry's phone calls. According to Jobson, this came after Harry had reportedly cursed at his father during a heated argument about finances.
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The book alleges that following a confrontation between the two, Charles simply failed to return Harry's calls any longer when his son kept contacting him asking for money. When the queen asked Charles why he did not take Harry's calls, he is said to have replied that he was "not a banker". This anecdote provides telling insight into how damaged the father-son relationship had become, even years before Charles ascended the throne.
While tensions have clearly been high since Harry's permanent move abroad, there have also been some small gestures indicating a willingness on both sides to repair their bond over time. For instance, despite their estrangement Prince Harry did attend his father's coronation as king in June 2022. He took his place amongst other senior royals to show respect and support on this momentous occasion.
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Additionally, in responding to the request for Harry's return with the polite but clearly nervous comment of "That's wonderful", King Charles did not outright shut down the idea. While the complex realities of mended family relations are never so simple, his words at least leave open the possibility of improved connections going forward should circumstances allow. With new generations of grandchildren in both the UK and US to consider, rebuilding bridges remains key.
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Only time will truly tell how the relationship between King Charles and his youngest son may evolve from here. As the dust settles on transition periods within the royal household and family, small steps towards understanding one another better could hopefully be taken. An olive branch extended from either side in a spirit of reconciliation would undoubtedly be welcomed by people on both sides of the Atlantic. With patience and compassion, even the most strained of familial bonds may gradually heal.
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