Prince Harry and his family met with King Charles when he was in the UK, marking a significant step in the potential reconciliation of their estranged relationship. The tensions between the father and son were heightened when Prince Harry gave bombshell interviews in the US and released his explosive memoir, Spare.
In the Duke of Sussex’s book, he addresses the breakdown of the relationship, but before that, he references a time when his father did give him a heartfelt apology.
© GettyHarry was writing about his darker days, struggling with his mental health, experiencing "panic attacks and anxiety". After King Charles referred him to a doctor to no avail, Harry revisited the conversation. He explained: “Over dinner one night at Highgrove, Pa and I spoke at some length about what I’d been suffering.
© Getty Images"I gave him the particulars, told him story after story. Towards the end of the meal he looked down at his plate and said softly: I suppose it’s my fault. I should’ve got you the help you needed years ago. I assured him that it wasn’t his fault. But I appreciated the apology.”
What is King Charles like as a father and grandfather?
Charles has the reputation of being a workaholic, sometimes prioritising his duty over family life, and that was confirmed by his own son Prince William when he spoke in the documentary, Prince, Son and Heir: Charles at 70, "He has amazing personal discipline," William revealed in the documentary.
"So, he has – and it's frustrated me in the past a lot – he has a routine. The only way to fit all this stuff in is things have to be compartmentalised. The man never stops. I mean when we were kids there was bags and bags and bags of work that the office just sent to him. We could barely even get to his desk to say goodnight to him."
© BBCPrince William also commented on his father being a "brilliant" grandfather, although he wished he could spend more time with his grandchildren. On whether Charles has time to be a granddad, the Prince said: "It's something I'm working more heavily on, put it that way. I think he does have time for it, but I would like him to have more time with the children.
Recently, Charles met with grandchildren Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, who live in Montecito with their father Harry and mother Meghan Markle.'
