Shortly after Meghan Markle‘s explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey, King Charles III reached out to the Duchess of Sussex via letters concerning her claims about race within the royal family.
The interview had raised eyebrows, and in response, Buckingham Palace, on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II, released a statement addressing the myriad issues brought to light, particularly those centered on race.
While Prince Harry clarified that the Queen and Prince Philip were not included in the race discussions, the palace acknowledged the gravity of the claims made.
The official statement indicated, “The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning.
Although recollections may differ, they are taken very seriously and will be handled privately by the family.”
In the wake of the April Telegraph report regarding Charles and Meghan’s letter exchange, which hinted at it influencing her decision to skip Charles’ coronation, a spokesperson for Meghan responded, asserting, “The Duchess is living her life in the present; she’s not preoccupied with correspondence from two years back related to conversations from four years ago.
Any claims to the contrary are inaccurate and frankly absurd.”
The strained dynamics among the royal family members have captured public attention, especially the sibling rivalry between Prince William and Prince Harry.
However, the relationship between King Charles and Prince William is equally fraught with tension and competition, according to royal expert Omid Scobie.
In his book, “Endgame,” he depicts both Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace as venues rife with conflicting agendas.
With Charles at 75, his reign is expected to be much shorter than that of his late mother, who reigned for 70 years until her passing at the age of 96.
Sources suggest that William is busy establishing his own identity as the future king, separate from his father’s legacy, as he endeavors to avoid being linked to any prior royal missteps.
For example, Scobie mentions that after the scandal involving Prince Andrew, it was William who took the initiative to strip him of his royal titles, although initial reports attributed this joint action to both William and Charles.
When approached for comments on Scobie’s characterizations of their relationship, neither palace has replied.
Tensions reached a boiling point when it was reported that Charles was displeased by William and Kate Middleton‘s handling of their turbulent Caribbean tour in early 2022.
Staff members expressed that William’s plans for modernizing the monarchy were being seen as inconsiderate, with one aide even labeling it “disrespectful.”
On another front, William took a definite stance against the actions of his godmother, Lady Susan Hussey, when she made racially insensitive remarks to British-born Ngozi Fulani at a Buckingham Palace event.
Following the backlash, William’s office declared that such behavior had no place in society.
As tension escalated, Charles took measures to foster media relations by hosting some royal correspondents at his estate in Dumfries House in February 2020, aiming to maintain favorable coverage after Harry and Meghan’s departure from royal duties.
However, Scobie notes that he was excluded from this intimate gathering.
The contrast in how William and Charles have communicated about events, such as the exit of Harry and Meghan, reveals a gap in familial solidarity.
A source revealed that while William had conveyed his feelings to reporters about the family’s stance on racism, he and Kate have not addressed the issue directly with Harry and Meghan, resulting in confusion and hurt feelings.
In his memoir, Harry recounted how he learned of the Queen’s death via BBC News while en route to his family.
Despite requesting a conversation with William before flying to Scotland, he received no response, prompting him to fly alone.
The royal family’s announcement came as Harry was in the air, leading to further aggravated sentiments for the once close-knit brothers.
Despite the fissures, William unexpectedly showed support for Harry during the Queen’s memorial services by allowing him to wear his military dress uniform, albeit without the royal insignia due to Harry’s diminished standing within the family.
This gesture, while seemingly simple, was appreciated by Harry amid an otherwise cold family atmosphere.
Communication between Harry and Charles remains minimal.
Following the release of “Spare,” Harry attempted to discuss unresolved issues with his father, but the conversation proved to be awkward and lacking openness.
Furthermore, Charles reportedly declined Harry’s request for a meeting during his recent visit to the U.K., leaving Harry feeling sidelined.
As for Queen Camilla, she reportedly sympathizes with Meghan but does not condone the couple’s public handling of personal grievances.
The palace remains a place of intrigue as letters exchanged between Charles and Meghan confirmed that while neither party intended harm regarding Archie‘s skin tone, they still diverged in interpreting the nature and implications of those discussions.
Ultimately, Charles’ outreach signifies an ongoing dialogue within the royal family regarding sensitive topics, showing that while past grievances remain impactful, there is also a desire for understanding and healing.
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