Beneath the facade of the British royal family's public image lies a cold war among its most prominent members—Prince Charles and his sons, William and Harry.
An anonymous source revealed to The Daily Beast that the differences among the trio are stark, stating, "They are very different people and they just don't get along. It's as simple as that. They practically don't even see each other outside of official events." Despite public statements of respect and admiration from William and Harry towards their father, insiders acknowledge an underlying tension in the royal family's inner circle.
The source further elaborated that Prince Charles disapproves of his children openly discussing their emotions. The princes, in their efforts to destigmatize mental health issues, have shared detailed accounts of their emotional struggles, particularly following the death of Princess Diana.
Prince Harry, in particular, expressed his anger towards Prince Charles for the handling of Princess Diana's funeral. He revealed, "My mother had just died, and I had to walk a long way behind her coffin surrounded by thousands of people who were watching me. I don't think any child should be subjected to that, under any kind of circumstance."
The relationship between Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles is another source of discord. Charles's extramarital affair with Camilla, which began before and continued during his marriage to Diana, has been a public struggle for acceptance by William and Harry, who witnessed the impact on Princess Diana.
Mark Bolland, a former advisor to Prince Charles, played a role in worsening tensions. Bolland orchestrated a media campaign post-Princess Diana's death to rehabilitate Charles's image and gain public acceptance of Camilla. Under Bolland's influence, Prince Charles allowed the privacy of his children to be compromised for favorable media stories.
The tensions between Charles and his heirs escalated when Bolland used media revelations to manipulate Prince William and Harry. Bolland revealed intimate details of William's meeting with Camilla, causing a rift between William and his father's advisors. Bolland also exploited Harry's personal struggles with marijuana use, orchestrating a media narrative that portrayed Prince Charles taking Harry to a rehabilitation clinic.
Both William and Harry felt betrayed by these manipulative tactics. William, in response, distanced himself from Prince Charles's work team. The tension extends to Prince Charles's disagreement with the informal relationships his children maintain with their employees, as he prefers more formal and structured dynamics.
Recent revelations suggest that Prince Charles is also displeased with William's work habits. According to Christopher Anderson, Charles feels that William and Kate Middleton do not contribute enough, adding strain to the father-son relationship.
Journalist Tom Bower, in his book "Rebel Prince," reveals that Prince Charles is left feeling excluded and jealous of Kate Middleton's family, who play a more prominent role in raising his grandchildren. This growing tension has led to speculation about William and Kate's decision to move to Sandringham, potentially to distance themselves from Prince Charles.
