A recurring theme in the media narrative around King Charles is that he is a kind man who deeply loves his family, yet tragically, duty often prevents him from showing it. For example, various anonymous sources told U.K. press outlets that the king really wanted to see Prince Harry when he visited London last month. But unfortunately, his royal schedule was so jam-packed that he had no time to see his traitorous younger son. Poor Charles!
The latest round of tabloid reports seem designed to combat the idea that King Charles is a bad grandpa because he barely knows Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children. Sure, he’s only seen 5-year-old Prince Archie a handful of times and he met 3-year-old Princess Lilibet just once. But royal expert Tom Quinn said the king “sent a gift along with a message” when Lilibet celebrated her birthday at her home in Montecito, California, earlier this month. And an “insider” told The Mirror that King Charles is passionate about being a part of his American grandchildren’s lives, particularly after his cancer diagnosis.
“The King is absolutely committed to being present in all of his grandchildren’s lives,” the source said. “He values family above everything and whatever the course of his relationship with his son he would never be content with just seeing his grandchildren on the odd video call.”
But seeing Archie and Lilibet in person is a bit difficult. Part of the problem is that last year, King Charles evicted their parents from Frogmore Cottage, the house they once lived in on the royal estate adjoining Windsor Castle. The Sussexes had long since moved to America, but while fleeing the U.K. in 2020, they did say that the house would remain their U.K. residence. Royal author Omid Scobie has said the house was the one place in Britain that met the family’s security needs, as Prince Harry has been denied police protection when he visits. (Harry’s attempt to challenge the British government’s decision to bar him from police protection, even if he covers the costs, was unsuccessful.)
Another issue is that the king of England, apparently, can’t just travel wherever he wants. On Wednesday, Quinn told The Mirror that Charles may come to California.
“Charles has had discussions about an official visit to the United States at some time in the future, and there is no doubt if it goes ahead he would build in time to visit his youngest son and his grandchildren,” Quinn said.
He continued: “King Charles has privately visited many other countries — he made an unpublicised visit to Transylvania for example to check up on his rental properties — so it’s certainly possible that he would make a discreet private visit to Harry and the children in California. He is desperate to see them and hates the idea that Archie and Lily will not remember him as the warm friendly grandfather he wants to be.”
So perhaps we’ll see King Charles pop up in California soon. Or maybe there’s something to those rumors about the monarch inviting the Sussexes to visit him at Balmoral Castle this summer.
But don’t hold your breath. Quinn said there are “mountains of planning to be overcome” before Charles visiting Montecito “becomes even a remote possibility.” And judging by this report from Daily Mail royal editor Rebecca English, the Balmoral reunion probably isn’t happening either:
When I asked a well-placed source whether Harry could bring his children to see the King at Balmoral this summer as a compromise, the answer was a resounding snort. Read into that what you will. His relationship with his other three grandchildren is in a far better place.
It’s just so sad that Charles can’t be the grandparent he wants to be owing to the complications of royal life (and/or the consequences of his own actions).
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