Duke’s Public Statement Disrupts Months of Royal Planning, Hurting Father
Prince Harry reportedly left King Charles disheartened after making a crucial decision without consulting him, as revealed in a royal biography by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand.
In July 2016, Harry made headlines when he issued a statement through Kensington Palace confirming his relationship with Meghan Markle while criticising the British press for their treatment of her. The announcement caught his father off guard, as the then-Prince Charles was informed only 20 minutes before it was released.
The timing of Harry's statement disrupted the meticulous planning of Charles' upcoming Gulf tour, which had been in preparation for months. The sudden focus on Harry and Meghan overshadowed the extensive efforts of Charles' team at Clarence House, causing frustration and disappointment.
While Charles was reportedly "crushed" by the impact on his tour, the biography notes that he understood the urgency of addressing the media’s treatment of Meghan, despite being disheartened by the timing of Harry’s decision.
