Prince Harry rocked the royal family when he published his tell-all memoir Spare in 2023, spilling countless well-preserved secrets about the royal family.
One such secret divulged in the book centered around the one thing King Charles reportedly could not stand Prince William and Princess Kate doing. Read on to find out what it was…
In the spotlight
© PA Images via Getty ImagesHarry claimed that back in 2015, the then-Prince Charles and his wife - who was known as Camilla Parker Bowles at the time - were envious of the public attention his older brother William and wife Kate tended to receive. The Prince said: "Willy did everything he (Charles) wanted, and sometimes he didn't want him to do much, because my dad and Camilla didn't like Willy and Kate getting too much publicity."
The Duke of Sussex alleges that Charles' staff ensured that Kate, who was the Duchess of Cambridge, was not photographed at any royal engagements holding a tennis racket. He explained this was because "that kind of photo would have pushed Dad and Camilla off every front page". King Charles feared the spotlight being taken away from him, claimed Harry.
New family member
A couple of years later in 2017, when he introduced now-wife Meghan Markle, to the family, Harry alleged his father feared the actress had the potential to "dominate the monarchy".
© Getty ImagesHarry said his father had "experienced that before and he had no interest in letting it happen to him again", in reference to his late mother Princess Diana. He added: "What he really couldn’t stomach was someone new dominating the monarchy, grabbing the limelight, someone shiny and new coming in and overshadowing him."
Back in 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex revealed they would be stepping back from royal duties. The couple relocated to Montecito, California, where they raised their two children and took part in regular media appearances to promote projects—including an appearance on Oprah Daily, a major Netflix deal, Archewell Productions, and public engagements.
© Getty Images for W+PHowever, royal fans were shocked in August 2026 when it was announced that the couple would be returning to the UK alongside their children. Preparing for the move, they plan to enrol Archie and Lilibet in school for September, though there will be no alterations to their status in the Royal Family.
Mending their relationship
Following their public falling out, there are clear signs that Harry is keen to mend his rift with his father.
In February 2024, the royal made a transatlantic dash to Britain to see his father following his cancer diagnosis, which may have led to the first steps in a reconciliation between the pair.
In July 2026, in what marked the most significant olive branch to date, the Duke of Sussex brought his wife Meghan and two children to Highgrove in Gloucestershire for a rare family meet-up. It was the first time Prince Archie, seven, and five-year-old Princess Lilibet had met their grandfather in person since 2022 during Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Friends of the Prince have said he was feeling "buoyed, very happy, and really energised" following the meet-up, according to a source in The Times. Prince Harry is now said to be in "frequent" contact with his father, HELLO! understands. Upon their return to Britain, HELLO! understands that King Charles is pleased to have the opportunity to see more of his son and grandchildren.
