07 October 2023 , 06:51
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King Charles is "subtly punishing" Prince Harry over the fallout with the royal family, an expert has claimed.
The monarch, 74, is reportedly open to a reconciliation with his youngest son despite being unhappy with Harry for his "betrayal". They haven't spoken for more than one year, it is believed, and now they'll only communicate through palace advisors.
Harry, 39, snubbed the King’s offer of staying with him at Balmoral last month to mark the first anniversary of the Queen’s death. Now, royal author Duncan Larcombe believes Charles is offering a "subtle" message to his son by adopting a "very standoff" approach.
William and Harry last saw each other after Queen Elizabeth II's death in 2022 (In Pictures via Getty Images)He said: "It appears that King Charles’ approach towards Harry now is business as usual - ‘if you want to see me you need to make an appointment’. Harry will have to get past the grey suits and jump through hoops to talk to his father. It's very standoffish but I think that's a way that the king is subtly punishing his son."
The Sun reports the monarch is still deeply upset about Harry’s treatment of his stepmother Camilla, branding her a "villain" in his autobiography. Prince William, on the other hand, is still understood to be mournful of the close bond the brothers once shared, but will still not back down and offer Harry an olive branch.
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Mr Larcombe told the publication: "It’s remarkable really, because when Charles became King he said he loved Harry and Meghan which was a huge olive branch - which Harry then took, snapped in half and then hit him with it... The King is still keeping those channels of communication open, where William isn’t."
William and Harry last saw each other at the Queen’s funeral last September and the pair have since refused to meet up, it is reported. William said he was "frustrated" because he fears he can't reach out to his brother without any correspondence being made public, as rumours surfaced recently Meghan Markle is writing her own memoirs.
In his memoirs, released this year and called Spare, Harry made a series of unsavoury accusations about his sister-in-law Princess of Wales. Royal experts have largely suggested William will never forgive his sibling for "dragging Kate's name through the mud".