Prince Harry, who is currently visiting Nigeria with Meghan Markle after concluding their trip to the United Kingdom, has faced criticism for his demands to meet his cancer-stricken father, King Charles. The Duke of Sussex’s brief visit to the UK to attend the anniversary of the Invictus Games sparked heated debate after King Charles, 75, told Harry he was “too busy” to meet him.
No members of the royal family attended the service and instead the duke was supported by his late mother Diana’s family, the Spencers. Royal commentator Carole Malone, speaking on GB News, criticized Harry for his “selfish” demands towards the King. She argued that Harry had enough time to visit him during his father’s break from his royal duties. “He had three months to come visit us,” Malone emphasized, referring to the period in which King Charles was away from public duties following his cancer diagnosis and treatment.
“If Harry wanted to build bridges so badly, he had three months to come see him when his father wasn’t doing anything. He could have even come last week before his Invictus Games commitments began. He could have come then and spent some time, but no, he comes for two days waiting for the King to abandon his incredibly busy schedule to give him an hour.”
Malone continued: “He met Rishi Sunak yesterday, he met the Prime Minister of Fiji, so it’s not like he’s just making up these engagements. He had them. And the idea that he should drop everything to fit in in this selfish way is beyond.”
However, Carole admitted the audience’s reaction to Harry’s arrival at the St Paul’s shows: “The audience is changing. “I feel like they’re on Harry’s side now and criticizing the King for not seeing him.” Another commentator, Jonathan Lis, came to the duke’s defense, saying: “We don’t know what’s really going on” behind closed doors.
Malone’s comments highlighted current tensions between Prince Harry and the royal family. The strained relationship was further evidenced by the absence of members of the royal family at the Invictus Games service, with only Diana’s family providing support to the Duke of Sussex.
Prince Harry’s recent trip to the United Kingdom was a brief visit, during which he briefly attended the Invictus Games anniversary celebration before heading to Nigeria with Meghan Markle. The couple’s international travels have attracted attention, especially given the ongoing rift between them and the royal family.
As Prince Harry and Meghan continue to navigate their public and private lives, criticism from royal commentators like Carole Malone underscores the ongoing challenges the Duke and Duchess of Sussex face in repairing their relationship with the royal family. Despite the heated debate surrounding Harry’s claims, he remains committed to his charitable work and public appearances, particularly through the Invictus Games.