King Charles has a wonderful bond with numerous family members, such as his grandchildren Prince George, Prince Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Regrettably, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet reside in California, on the opposite side of the planet, and it’s reported that they have no relationship with their grandfather.
Apparently, it seems that King Charles won’t get to see his grandchildren in the US anytime soon. Prince Harry has made it evident that he won’t bring his wife and children to the UK without the security he deems essential. Reportedly, he has asked his father to assist in arranging that protection, and if the rumors are true, the king is unable to do so.
Harry and Meghan Markle have been accused of “emotionally blackmailing” the king by leveraging their children to obtain the mentioned security. However, it’s said that Charles is extremely eager to see Archie and Lilibet.
Now, a new report indicates that Harry’s children have become a focal point in the ongoing feud between Charles and Harry and might be the reason why the king won’t completely sever ties with his son.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have landed themselves in a difficult situation with the Royal Family. Given all that has been said about the monarchy, it’s not surprising that Prince William and Kate Middleton seem to have no desire to interact with them.
Nevertheless, one individual who still appears at least willing to maintain a functional and amicable relationship with them is King Charles, and his motivation might well be his two grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
King Charles’ Relationship with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet
The complex relationship with Harry and Meghan has led to King Charles being unable to visit his grandchildren in the US. As mentioned, Harry views bringing his family to the UK as a security hazard since he can’t be assured of the protection he believes is necessary.
“All it takes is for one lone individual who reads this stuff to act on what they’ve read. And whether it’s a knife or acid, these are genuine concerns for me. It’s one of the reasons I won’t bring my wife back to this country,” Harry stated in the ITV documentary Tabloids On Trial.
The issue of the Sussexes’ security in the UK has been a topic of discussion for a long while. Harry has fought it in court and is set to do so again in the near future.
According to People, Harry is preparing to appeal a court ruling that upheld the decision to deny him state-funded security in the UK. An insider informed the US news outlet that Harry wants his previous security rights restored, which in the long run would mean more flexibility when he, his wife, and their two children choose to visit the UK.
But although security is crucial for Harry, sadly, it has another significant aspect. According to a royal insider speaking to People Magazine, whether Harry and his family receive security when visiting the UK will play a vital role in the Duke’s relationship with his father.
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“Harry is frightened and feels the only person who can do something about it is his father,” the royal insider told People.
Another source added: “Harry is determined to safeguard his own family at all costs.”
“A Massive Void in His Heart”
While the lack of protection has made Harry reluctant to bring his wife and children to the UK, King Charles is heartbroken about not seeing his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet. A source close to the king even accused Harry of “emotional blackmailing,” stating that the Duke has essentially threatened his father that he’ll never again meet Archie and Lilibet.
The source told the Daily Beast that Harry wants to pressure Charles into using his influence to help the Sussexes obtain enhanced security when visiting the UK — only time will tell if this strategy has any chance of succeeding.
It’s truly sad that Harry feels he can’t bring his children to the UK due to security concerns. The situation becomes even more tragic from King Charles’ perspective, as he is effectively being barred from seeing Archie and Lilibet.
To date, the monarch has reportedly only met them a few times. The last encounter was years ago, meaning it’s uncertain if the children (Archie is 5; Lilibet 3) even recall seeing their royal grandfather.
King Charles is said to be devastated about not having a relationship with Archie and Lilibet. Meanwhile, a US Weekly source said the nonexistent connection with his US grandchildren has “left a huge void in his heart, as he’s only spent a few brief days with them and then had video calls on important occasions.”
The source added that Charles has a very close relationship with Prince William and Kate Middleton’s children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, and that he “yearns for the same relationship with his US-based grandkids.
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While it’s heartrending that Charles, as a grandfather, can’t see his grandchildren, the question remains whether he could have made it more feasible.
King Charles “Desperate to See” Archie & Lilibet
In June, royal expert Tom Quinn spoke with the Mirror, contending that Charles’ eviction of Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage in 2023 following the release of Harry’s tell-all memoir Spare has further complicated matters.
“King Charles would love to be closer to Harry and have a functional relationship with his son,” Quinn said. “But this hinges on Harry providing his father with absolute assurances that there will be no more books and no more embarrassing interviews.”
The royal expert claimed Charles had been discussing the possibility of visiting the US out of desperation to mend the rift with Harry and see his grandchildren.
Queen Camilla concurs, and Quinn said she had made a “encouraging effort” to help Charles strengthen the bond with Archie and Lilibet by urging him to send Lilibet a “heartfelt gift and card” for her third birthday on June 4.
“Charles has had discussions about an official visit to the United States at some point in the future, and there’s no doubt that if it proceeds, he would allocate time to visit his youngest son and his grandchildren,” Quinn added. “But there are numerous planning obstacles to overcome before that becomes even a remote possibility.”
The royal expert concluded: “King Charles has privately visited many other countries—he made an unpublicized visit to Transylvania, for example, to check on his rental properties—so it’s entirely 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 thought that Archie and Lili won’t remember him as the warm, friendly grandfather he aspires to be.”
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It goes without saying that the numerous accusations Prince Harry has leveled at the Royal Family have not served him well personally. His brother, William, refuses to communicate with him, his mother-in-law, Queen Camilla, wants nothing to do with him, and the once-strong connection with his father is in tatters.
Prince Archie & Princess Lilibet “Written Out” of Royal Narrative, Expert Says
The Sussexes visited both Nigeria and Colombia earlier this year, and both trips seemingly enhanced their standing on the world stage. However, the British royals were reportedly enraged, perceiving Harry and Meghan’s actions as those of a couple still acting as if they are an active part of the monarchy.
Every August, the Royal Family convenes at Balmoral to spend time together. Simultaneously, the “royal summit” also includes discussions about future plans. According to the Express, one topic this year was Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. A source told the UK newspaper that there were discussions about whether Harry should even remain in the line of succession.
For Archie and Lilibet, not being able to visit the UK not only implies that they don’t have a relationship with their grandfather but also that they miss out on forming bonds with their royal cousins, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
When King Charles attended the Japanese State Visit banquet in June, he cracked a joke about Pokemon, saying that the famous Pokemon phrase ‘gotta catch ’em all’ “might resonate with my grandchildren.”
Royal expert Kate Mansey discussed the matter on the podcast Royal Confidential, stating: “The first thing that comes to mind is the Waleses because he doesn’t have that connection to the Sussex grandchildren.
Mansey argued whether Harry and Meghan have become so estranged that “it’s as if they’ve been completely omitted from the narrative,” meaning that when Charles mentions his grandkids, it’s assumed he means Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
“You don’t even consider now, ‘Oh, I wonder which grandchildren he’s thinking about,” Mansey said, as reported by the Express. “You think of Charles talking about his grandchildren, and the first thing that comes to mind is the Wales’, because he doesn’t have that connection to the Sussex grandchildren.”
King Charles “Keener Than Ever” to Build a Relationship with Harry & His Children
Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas Markle, spoke with the Daily Mail in June, asserting that Archie and Lilibet are being “deprived of the right” to get to know their cousins.
“It struck me as extremely sad that Meghan and Harry’s kids are being denied the right to know their cousins, who seem like wonderful children, or to participate in events like Trooping the Colour, which is their birthright,” Markle said.
“They are reaching an age where they will start to ask questions, as all kids do,” he added. “I find myself wondering how Archie and Lilbet will feel in a few years’ time when they realize all the things they have missed out on.”
King Charles has only had the opportunity to communicate with Prince Archie and Prince Lilibet via FaceTime. He believes that’s insufficient. According to a Mirror source, the king is not ‘satisfied’ with only seeing them through video.
He’s reportedly “more eager than ever” to focus on his family, making up for “lost time” after having to step back from many of his royal duties when he was diagnosed with cancer.
“The King is wholeheartedly committed to being involved in all of his grandchildren’s lives. He values family above all else, and regardless of the state of his relationship with his son, he would never be content with just seeing his grandchildren on the occasional video call,” the source said.
Prince Archie & Princess Lilibet Is the Reason Why King Charles “Never Breaks Ties with Harry”
Royal expert Ingrid Seward, author of My Mother and I – The Inside Story of the King and Our Late Queen, added that “family has always been significant” for King Charles.
“He recalls his own somewhat fragmented childhood as his parents were constantly occupied with their duties. It’s a great source of sadness for him that he doesn’t see more of Archie and Lilibet,” she told the Mirror.
“That’s why he will never sever ties with Harry. He doesn’t want a FaceTime relationship with his son’s children. He wants to know them and be involved in their lives while they are still young enough to benefit from his wisdom. His cancer has made it all the more poignant for him as he knows he won’t be around forever.”