Last week, the situation reached a boiling point when reports surfaced that Prince Harry had sent an SOS letter to King Charles, demanding over £1 billion (equivalent to approximately $1.1 billion). In the letter, Harry purportedly requested funds to cover security costs in the US, where they reside without the financial backing of the royal family. Additionally, he sought money for housing expenses and assistance in establishing charitable foundations under their names.
Sources close to the story revealed that King Charles was shocked and outraged upon receiving the letter. He considered Harry's request exorbitant and deemed it inappropriate and disrespectful. The king felt that Harry was attempting to capitalize on his royal status, despite no longer being a working member of the family. Furthermore, he believed that Harry and Meghan's previous interviews had already done significant damage to the institution of the monarchy.
In response to the SOS letter, King Charles reportedly refused Harry's demands and closed the door on any further discussions. He informed his son that he would no longer receive financial support from the royal family coffers. This decision marks a significant turning point, severing Prince Harry's financial ties to the institution he was born into. It represents a new low in the relationship between father and son and signals King Charles' resolve to cease providing financial assistance in any form.
To understand how matters reached this point of a major family falling out and a son being denied financial support by his father, let's review key events that contributed to the deterioration of Harry and Charles's relationship over the past few years.
In January 2020, Harry and Meghan's announcement that they intended to step back as senior working royals, seeking financial independence and splitting their time between the UK and North America, shocked the world. This decision blindsided the queen and other senior royals. After crisis talks, an agreement was reached: the couple would relinquish their HRH titles, repay funds used for their home renovations, and no longer represent the queen formally. They were allowed to retain Frogmore Cottage as their UK base.
In March 2021, Harry and Meghan's tell-all interview with Oprah aired, coinciding with Prince Philip's hospitalization. During the interview, they accused the royal family of racism, neglect of Meghan's mental health struggles, and feeling trapped by their royal life. Meghan disclosed conversations about Archie's skin tone before his birth, intensifying the racism allegations against the royals.
The relationship between King Charles and Prince Harry appears irreparably damaged after years of reported conflict behind closed palace doors. Harry has openly criticized institutional failings within the monarchy and repeatedly voiced grievances about his treatment and Meghan's treatment as working royals. Meanwhile, King Charles, now the head of the House of Windsor, prioritizes safeguarding the integrity and future of the monarchy at all costs.
Refusing Harry's financial demands and firmly closing the door may be seen as a necessary step for Charles, regardless of the personal toll it takes. Only time will tell if reconciliation between the once-close father and son is possible. For now, Harry finds himself cut off and effectively exiled from the very institution he was born into, following his latest attempt to leverage his royal connections for significant financial gain after stepping away from royal duties. This unfolding family feud is truly astonishing, captivating the public's attention.
