Prince Harry and his father, King Charles, are reportedly not speaking to each other. Since Harry stepped away from royal duties in 2020, he’s shared many personal details about his life and family. In his 2023 memoir Spare, Harry said his father seemed emotionally distant, especially after Princess Diana died in 1997. He described King Charles as someone who didn’t show much physical affection—no hugs or kisses, and only the occasional light touch on the cheek during special moments.
But a royal insider has challenged Harry’s version of events. They told The Sunday Times that King Charles was actually very involved when his sons were growing up. He would run around with them, teach them about gardening, and take them on hikes, bike rides, and fishing trips. The insider said the idea that Charles was a cold or distant parent is not true and was a misunderstanding, possibly influenced by Princess Diana’s view of him.
While Harry has been openly critical of his father in recent years, his older brother, Prince William, has not. William, now 42, has mentioned that his father is a workaholic, but he still speaks positively about him. In an ITV documentary, William recalled a funny memory from childhood when he played a wizard in a school Christmas play. A small explosion effect went off late during his performance, and King Charles couldn’t stop laughing through the show, making William a bit embarrassed but amused.
William also shared that their father used to send them letters while they were away at boarding school. Just recently, a warm moment between Charles and William was caught on camera at Westminster Abbey, where the King gently patted William’s arm during a public event.
This moment came shortly after Harry gave a revealing BBC interview, where he claimed that King Charles was refusing to speak to him.
