King Charles has confirmed through inside sources close to Buckingham Palace that he will not be attending Princess Lilibet's third birthday party next month in California.
Charles has made it clear that he only considers Prince William and Kate's three children as his official grandchildren. This latest move by the King further strains relations between the royal family in the UK and the Sussexes in the US. Let's delve deeper into what has been reported and understand the broader context behind this generational divide playing out so publicly.
To provide some background, since stepping down from their senior royal roles in early 2020 and relocating to California, Harry and Meghan have openly criticized aspects of the institution and their treatment by certain family members. This candidness has not been well received by the Firm, as the monarchy prides itself on a code of silence and discretion. Their tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey last year only heightened tensions, with Meghan alleging that concerns were raised within the family over Archie's skin color before he was born. She also revealed her struggles with mental health as a working royal, claiming she did not receive support when she sought help.
At the time, Buckingham Palace stated that the issues raised would be addressed privately as a family matter. Clearly, that attempt at reconciliation has not succeeded. Harry, in his recent memoir, expressed doubts about whether he and his brother William could ever fully repair their relationship given its current state. While the late Queen, known for her sense of duty, kept the door open to mending fences, her passing has clearly altered the family dynamic.
Now, with Charles as King, he appears intent on taking a stricter approach, particularly concerning the titles and privileges afforded to Harry and Meghan. For example, just this past summer, he denied the Sussexes' request to grant Archie and Lilibet HRH titles and list them as prince and princess, continuing to refer to them as Master and Miss. This decision broke with royal tradition of automatically granting the grandchildren of the sovereign prince/princess status.
Against this broader context, news of Charles explicitly stating he will not attend Lilibet's birthday and only acknowledging William's three children as his grandchildren seems like a clear message and power move from the new King. Harry and Meghan's children are effectively being relegated to a lower rank within the royal hierarchy as Charles establishes the slimmer, lower-cost monarchy he envisions for the future. On one hand, this can be seen as Charles implementing necessary changes for a modernized institution and making clear that royal duties, titles, and privileges will come with tighter strings attached after the Sussexes' very public break. However, those close to Harry say this will only push him and Meghan further away from ever wanting to fully engage or participate in royal life again after feeling so rejected by Charles and the establishment.
In response to this latest slight, a spokesperson for the Sussexes expressed sadness over the King's continued disrespect towards Harry and his family, who remain committed to service. They noted that Lilibet, who has yet to meet any of her British relatives, turns three on June 4th, and this decision ignores the symbolic importance of such a milestone celebration for any parent. While the event is just a small backyard party at the Sussexes' California home due to Lilibet's young age, insiders say it was still meaningful for Harry to extend the invitation to his father and brother as an olive branch, only to be publicly snubbed by Charles in the press.
Some royal experts believe that Charles fails to comprehend the deep hurt that continues to linger from Harry's feelings of abandonment as a young boy following Princess Diana's passing in 1997. This family trauma has informed Harry's decision to leave the UK and establish an independent life away from the palace. By dismissing any relationship with Lilibet and her brother Archie, it sends a message that they will always be outsiders in Charles's vision for the future.
