King Charles 'fed up' with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 'soap opera' dramas

19 November 2023 , 12:05

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King Charles and Prince Harry (Image: LightRocket via Getty Images)

King Charles is reportedly fed up with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's "soap opera" dramas after details of the couple's conversation with the King on his birthday were leaked.

The 75-year-old monarch reportedly spoke to his son Prince Harry, 39, and his daughter-in-law Meghan Markle, 42, on his big day while the Duchess of Sussex showed him a pre-recorded video of Prince Archie, 4, and Princess Lilibet, 2, singing Happy Birthday to the monarch. The phonecall made headlines because of the ongoing rift between the father and son that led to many believing they were not on speaking terms.

Buckingham Palace refused to comment on a "private" call, but it was not long before details emerged. One source close to the King said to The Sunday Times that the call was a "turning point" in the strained relations. Another said: "It frustrates him that personal issues intrude on the public duty. He’d much rather the focus was on his work, not the soap opera of the private life. It is always frustrating when family dynamics overshadow the public role."

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (Getty Images)

Courtiers were said to be "baffled" that the private conversation was briefed before and after the fact, taking away from the actual work that Charles wishes to highlight as King. It's unclear how the details of the phone call were leaked but before the call, the BBC reported that it would take place and afterwards the Daily Telegraph reported on details of the conversation.

Daily Mail Diary editor Richard Eden questioned how the UK media was able to obtain the details of the private conversation so quickly. He wrote for the publication: "How did the BBC know ahead of time that Prince Harry would ring his father? And how, afterward, did the Daily Telegraph discover the contents of a conversation to which few others can have been privy?"

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Friends of the Sussexes say they want to spend time with the family and would readily accept an invitation to Christmas at Sandringham, the King’s Norfolk home, or a summer stay at Balmoral, Scotland. A friend said to the Sunday Times: "I can’t imagine the Sussexes would decline an invitation to spend time with His Majesty. As of yet, there have not been any invitations for the holidays." Harry and Meghan last spent Christmas at Sandringham in 2018.

Rachel Hagan