Friends of Prince Harry claimed today that King Charles III is no longer taking calls from his estranged son or responding to his letters as their rift deepens.
The Duke of Sussex and Charles last met in person in February, when they met for 45 minutes in London following the monarch’s cancer diagnosis.
But sources close to Harry said their communication has worsened since then amid growing tensions over the duke’s battle for his safety when in Britain.
The Duke of Sussex is said to be “scared” for the safety of his wife Meghan Markle and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, and believes the King has the power to intervene in their ongoing court case with the Home Office.
Sources told the American magazine People that the security issue began as a point of frustration between father and son, but has now turned into “total silence.”
King Charles III and Prince Harry, pictured at the Natural History Museum in December 2019
Prince Harry and Meghan at the 2024 ESPY Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on July 11
A friend of Harry said: “He is not available at the moment. His calls are not being answered. He has tried to contact the king to ask about his health but those calls are also not being answered.”
Decisions regarding the Duke’s security are taken independently of the King by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC), which is part of the Ministry of the Interior.
Harry last visited the UK in May to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, but was unable to meet his father during this latest trip. The Duke’s spokesman said at the time that this was due to the King’s “busy schedule”.
In February, Harry – who now lives in Montecito, California – lost his appeal in London’s High Court against the UK government over his right to state-funded police protection.
He had told a judge he did not feel able to bring his children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three, to Britain and could not put Meghan “in that danger”.
Harry was last in Britain to attend an Invictus Games service at St Paul’s Cathedral in May 2024.
Harry attended the king’s coronation at Westminster Abbey in May 2023 without Meghan.
In May, Harry was granted permission to go to the Court of Appeal over Ravec’s 2020 decision.
There is a member of the King’s staff in Ravec, but the King has no power to grant police protection.
Last week it was confirmed that Birmingham would be the host city for the Invictus Games in 2027, but Harry could choose to attend without the rest of his family due to his security fears.
She may also consider visiting Britain for the funeral of her uncle Lord Robert Fellowes, Queen Elizabeth II’s private secretary, who died on Monday aged 82.
Charles and William stood by Harry when he launched the Invictus Games ten years ago, joining him at the opening ceremony and then flanking him as they watched the athletics events together with great enthusiasm.
Meghan was last seen in public in the UK almost two years ago at the late Queen’s funeral in September 2022. She is pictured attending the service with Prince Harry and other royals.
Prince Harry may consider visiting Britain for the funeral of his uncle Lord Robert Fellowes (pictured), Queen Elizabeth II’s private secretary, who died on Monday aged 82.
But a lot has changed in the intervening years: Harry stepped down as a working royal alongside Meghan in early 2020 and moved to the United States.
She has had to deal with a strained relationship with her father and an ongoing rift with her brother, compounded by her criticism of Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William and the Princess of Wales in her Netflix documentary-memoir, Spare.
Meghan was last seen publicly in the UK almost two years ago at the late Queen’s funeral in September 2022.
Harry marked the 10th anniversary of Invictus at a special service at St Paul’s Cathedral in London in May, but Meghan and their children were not present, and there was no appearance by the King or William.
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