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While Prince Harry and Prince William currently have a strained relationship, there was a time when they presented a rare united front over King Charles' marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles, now Queen Consort. In a recent interview with CBS's 60 Minutes, Harry revealed that he and William had asked Charles not to marry Camilla because they didn't think it was necessary.
"We believed there would be more negative effects than positive ones and if he was with his person now then that should be sufficient," Harry told Anderson Cooper. "When it's not absolutely necessary why go that far? We wanted his happiness and his happiness with her was evident to us, therefore everything was okay at the time."
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Beyond just opposing the marriage, Harry also called Camilla a "villain" due to her alleged need for rehabilitation after her role in the breakdown of his parents' marriage. According to Harry, Camilla posed a threat to the royal family as she worked to rehabilitate her public image through her connections with the British press.
There was a "clear desire to exchange information on all sides," Harry claimed, as Camilla cultivated relationships with newspapers and magazines. Rising to the position of Queen Consort as part of the hierarchy-focused dynasty could leave "people on the street," Harry believed. If a royal family member believes good press will enhance their reputation and chances of being recognized as king or queen, then that is what they will do, Harry suggested to Cooper.
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William and Charles were reportedly upset with Harry for releasing a statement denouncing the British tabloid press's racist coverage of his relationship with Meghan Markle. However, Harry argued Meghan faced similar pressures as Kate and Camilla did from the tabloids, but faced an added layer of racism.
"I was so innocent when I started out. I was unaware of how racist the British press could be," Harry said. "I was probably prejudiced earlier, you think you were biased before the relationship with Meghan?" Cooper asked Harry pointedly. This line of questioning led Harry to appear less comfortable during the interview according to body language expert Judy James.
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While Harry seemed relaxed at first, once asked about The Crown Netflix series covering the royal family, his hands and leg gestures indicated discomfort according to James. Smirks and smug expressions gave an impression of laid-back enjoyment, but his body language betrayed unease over discussing the show. Harry made a rare trip to the UK in late August to attend his uncle's funeral. It was hoped he could reconcile with Charles and William while in England.
However, it seems any potential reunion did not go smoothly. Royal writer Dan Wooton reported that King Charles is worried about Harry losing his lucrative Netflix deal and potential requests for handouts. Charles is also facing pressure to reconcile from religious and family figures like the Archbishop of Canterbury, but conversations have been strained. Queen Camilla is said to advise limiting interactions with Harry for Charles' health and recovery from cancer.
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Despite family divisions, there arelocations around Balmoral Estate in Scotland that hold fond memories for William, Kate, and Harry from times past. One such site is the three-bedroom Tam Nam Gar cottage on the 50,000 acre estate. It was here that William frequently courted Kate during university breaks away from media attention in the early 2000s. Kate was even brought to Tam Nam Gar during this early courtship period before her official Balmoral test in 2009.
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The secluded cottage provided the perfect private retreat amid the sprawling wilderness surrounding it. King Charles himself has praised the peace and tranquility found in the British countryside, where he feels most comfortable. As a favored family location away from scrutiny, Tam Nam Gar no doubt stirs pleasant recollections for William and Kate of halcyon days before life in the royal spotlight. Its idyllic setting still offers respite for senior royals like Charles when time allows for escape to the Scottish highlands.
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Meanwhile, Harry has suggested Kate finds it challenging being regularly compared to her more charismatic sister-in-law Meghan. According to Harry's memoir, the arrival of the seemingly "better than her" American actress on the scene left Kate feeling tense. While public admiration for the Sussexes grew rapidly, behind palace walls the princesses' relationship became strained under the pressure of constant evaluation. As future queen, Kate likely sees such comparisons as an added burden of her role in the firmly hierarchical Windsor dynasty.
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