Key Takeaways:
– The departure of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle strengthened the bond between King Charles and late Queen Elizabeth II.
– British biographer, Robert Hardman, states in his book, “The Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy,” that their exit led to a sense of unity among the royalty remaining.
– Harry and Meghan’s candid interview with Oprah, their Netflix docuseries, and Harry’s memoir “Spare” have hinted at the underlying issues within the royal family.
– Despite the separation, Harry and Meghan’s absence is considered a regrettable loss for the British Monarchy, according to Hardman.
The recent departure of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from their senior monkish duties to settle into a more civilian lifestyle in United States appears to have inadvertently solidified the bond between the reigning King Charles and his deceased mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Unveiling the Royal Tie
Renowned British biographer, Robert Hardman, known for his well-sourced royal coverage, unearthed the shift in relationships among the royals in his latest book, “The Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy.”
The monarch, aged 75, and the longest reigning Queen of Britain, who tragically passed away last September aged 96, purportedly agreed on the position of the now infamous couple, Prince Harry and Meghan. The paramount choice standing in front of the couple per the royal’s consensus was either to retain the entirety of their royal responsibilities or to entirely forfeit them. The halfway commitment to selective public duties wasn’t an acceptable compromise.
Hardman maintains, “Harry and Meghan’s departure brought Charles and his mother closer together.” For his new book, he collaborated with many active and retired royal aides and friends of the now King, Charles.
The Shock of Royal Departure
The biographer noted a distinct “sense of shock” quickly spreading in the royal circles following Harry and Meghan’s controversial 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey. During the talk show, the couple candidly discussed the alleged mistreatment and racist comments they purportedly dealt with inside the royal quarters.
“That was huge,” Hardman acknowledged. Further elaborating, he pointed out that King Charles was marked with a “sort of weary resignation” in response to his son’s divisive actions, albeit tinged with sadness. Charles displayed pragmatism, understanding his priorities as the reigning King and expressing an open-door philosophy towards his son and daughter-in-law.
Engaging with Post-Exit Revelations
Harry and Markle, a former “Suits” star, have since publicly spilled royal secrets through a 2022 Netflix docuseries and the Prince’s memoir, “Spare.” It’s the memoir especially that took the readers by storm with its shocking revelations when it emerged into the market a year ago.
While it may seem that the gates to their royal past are firmly shut, Hardman disagrees. He perceives their departure as an unfortunate loss for the institutional monarchy rather than a liberation. Preserving an optimistic outlook for potential royal reconciliation, he says, “There’s absolutely no sense of good riddance or anything like that…there’s only so much I as a father can do,” referring to King Charles’s stance.
Last year, Prince Harry and Meghan found themselves in another controversy when they ended their contract with Spotify due to failing production commitments. The couple produced only a single podcast for the music streamer, leading Spotify exec and Ringer founder, Bill Simmons, to label them as “grifters.”
Despite the backlashes, it’s clear that the British Monarchy’s saga and its diverse character dynamics keep the public constantly engaged. As these shifts transpire among the royals, especially after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s exit, the crown waits in anticipation for the couple’s return.