Prince Harry 'overshadowed' King Charles' birthday with another family row

13 November 2023 , 13:49

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Harry and Charles have a difficult relationship

Prince Harry has already “overshadowed” King Charles’ birthday with yet another family squabble.

The monarch is set to celebrate his 75th birthday on November 14, and will be spending time with close family - including wife Camilla, son Prince William, Kate Middleton and their three children, as well as his sister Princess Anne. However, one name is absent from the list, and that’s his youngest son Harry.

The 39-year-old, who along with wife Meghan Markle, dramatically stepped down from senior roles in the Royal Family back in 2020, is reportedly not on speaking terms with his father, and is also estranged from his older brother, the Prince of Wales. While Harry attended his father’s coronation earlier this year, it’s understood that the prince will not be spending time with Charles for his birthday.

READ MORE: Prince Harry snubbed by Royal Family again for the second time this week amid frosty feud

The father and son have a frosty relationship after years of squabbling

A source told the Sunday Times that the king would be content celebrating his birthday “with his closest family and friends at Clarence House”, and claimed Harry had been invited, but would not be attending. Instead, he would be at home with wife Meghan and their two young children - Archie, four, and Lilibet, two.

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The royal insider told the outlet that Charles had a “twinge in his heart” over his estrangement with Harry, and while there are issues “that aren’t resolved”, the monarch is “taking a long-term view”. They added: “But that doesn’t change the king’s love for his son. He’ll never not invite his son to a family gathering, because that’s not who he is.”

Harry used to have a close bond with his father

The king will be celebrating his birthday without his youngest son (Getty Images)

Despite Harry and Meghan having a “zero engagement” policy in regards to stories about them in the UK tabloids, a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Susex fired back at the report, and claimed Harry had not been invited in the first place. “In response to U.K. media headlines, there has been no contact regarding an invitation to His Majesty’s upcoming birthday,” the spokesperson told the NYT’s Messenger. “It is disappointing the Sunday Times has misreported this story.”

The pair had a frosty reunion earlier this year when Harry attended the King’s coronation, and when he flew back to the UK in September for a memorial service in honour of his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, he reportedly turned down an invitation to see his father.

Emma Wilson