For the first time since Prince Harry’s bombshell BBC interview, King Charles has been seen in public.
The 76-year-old monarch was smiling and waving to well-wishers as he attended a church service at Sandringham while staying at his royal estate in Norfolk over the weekend.
Dressed in a dark suit, Charles was spotted in the back of a car as he made his way to St. Mary Magdalene Church for the Sunday service at 11 a.m.
However, there was no sign of Queen Camilla accompanying him.
Prince Harry’s Candid Remarks Stir Controversy
This appearance comes after Prince Harry’s emotionally charged interview where he made some startling comments.
In the BBC interview, the Duke of Sussex revealed that his father “won’t speak to me” and described himself as a victim of an “Establishment stitch-up.”
His remarks also ventured into personal territory when he discussed King Charles’s health, expressing concern over how much longer his father might have due to his ongoing battle with cancer.
In the same interview, Harry accused the Royal Household of meddling in his efforts to reinstate his UK police security—a claim that was quickly dismissed by both the government and Buckingham Palace.
The Legal Battle and Security Dispute
Harry has been locked in a legal battle over his security arrangements in the UK.
After stepping back from royal duties in 2020 and relocating to California, he and his wife, Meghan Markle, lost the royal protection they once had.
Harry argued that it was too dangerous for him and his family to return to the UK without police protection, leading him to take the government to court.
A ruling in February 2024 declared his case “legally sound,” but the Court of Appeal rejected his challenge on Friday.
Despite the setback, Harry hinted at the possibility of an appeal to the Supreme Court.
Following the ruling, he shared his frustration, saying, “I can’t see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point.”
He also expressed a desire for reconciliation with his family, acknowledging the many disagreements but emphasizing that life is precious and he had “forgiven” them.
Meghan Shows Public Support for Harry
In an apparent display of support, Meghan posted a photo of Harry walking through a garden holding their son Archie’s hand and carrying their daughter Lilibet.
While Meghan’s gesture shows solidarity, royal commentators have voiced criticism over Harry’s public remarks, particularly those regarding his father’s health.
Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty Magazine, found Harry’s comments about King Charles “quite alarming,” noting the mixed messages being sent about the monarch’s health despite Harry admitting he hadn’t spoken to his father for some time.
Reactions to Harry’s Statements
Alisa Anderson, the former press secretary to the late Queen, also criticized Harry’s comments, calling them “unhelpful” given the ongoing treatment for an unspecified cancer.
She warned that such public remarks would only stir more speculation and concern about King Charles’s condition, further complicating matters for the royal family.
Both commentators suggested that Harry’s ongoing public revelations do little to ease the tension between him and the rest of the royal family.
The situation, they argued, might have been better served by maintaining a dignified silence rather than airing private family matters in public.
The Widening Rift
The rift between Harry and his family deepened following his infamous 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, where he and Meghan alleged that a family member had expressed concerns about their son Archie’s skin tone before he was born.
In his memoir Spare, Harry claimed that his brother, Prince William, had physically attacked him and that King Charles had prioritized his own interests over Harry’s.
He also accused Camilla, the Queen Consort, of using the press to improve her image at his expense.
These public statements have led many to question the possibility of any future reconciliation.
Harry’s openness about his grievances, particularly his recent remarks about his father’s health and his security dispute, has only added fuel to the fire, according to royal observers.
Can There Be a Path Forward?
The situation appears as contentious as ever.
Royal commentators believe that Harry’s actions over the past few years, from his interviews to the release of his book, have done little to mend the fractured relationships within the royal family.
While Harry has expressed a desire for reconciliation, many doubt whether such a reconciliation is possible anytime soon, given the deeply personal and public nature of the rift.
As the Sussexes continue to navigate their life in California, the question remains: Can the royal family heal these wounds, or has the damage been done beyond repair?