According to reports from Tom Bower’s book, the relationship between Prince Charles and Meghan Markle had already become strained prior to her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018.
Bower alleges that Charles had concerns about Meghan’s political ambitions and her deviation from royal family traditions after the birth of their son, Archie, in May 2019.
In 2019, rumors circulated in the British tabloids suggesting that Charles had doubts about Archie’s paternity. It is important to note that there is no evidence to support these rumors. However, Bower claims that these rumors contributed to the preexisting tensions between Charles and Meghan. When Meghan and Harry visited the UK briefly with Archie in late 2019, Bower asserts that Charles took the opportunity to request a DNA test to confirm Archie’s parentage.
It’s worth mentioning that Bower’s claim about Charles requesting a DNA test is based on unnamed sources, and there is no direct quote from Charles or anyone speaking on his behalf. Neither Clarence House nor a spokesperson for the Sussexes have confirmed or denied the alleged interaction. It is also important to highlight that DNA testing of royals would be unprecedented and considered a severe breach of privacy unless conducted voluntarily.
The request for a DNA test may have stemmed from a place of distrust and the desire for absolute certainty, even if it was disrespectful and damaging to family bonds. However, there are reasons to approach this claim with skepticism. The allegations rely solely on unnamed sources in Tom Bower’s controversial book, which takes a critical view of Meghan. Bower does not provide confirmed quotes or supporting evidence for this specific allegation.
Furthermore, if Charles truly lacked faith in Archie’s parentage to the extent of requiring genetic proof, it seems unlikely that the royal family would have publicly embraced Archie as seventh in line to the throne without assurance. This suggests that the claim may be questionable.
At present, there is no way to verify if the alleged interaction between Charles and Meghan occurred. When dealing with allegations based solely on anonymous sources, it is important to approach them with caution and refrain from making definitive judgments. If DNA testing did take place or further evidence emerges, it could have long-term implications for Charles and Harry’s relationship. However, both sides have maintained silence on the matter.
Moving forward to 2022, Archie is now three years old, and his younger sister, Lilibet Diana, was born in June 2021. Bower alleges that during the same 2019 UK visit, Charles also questioned the parentage of Lilibet before her birth and expressed a desire to see DNA proof for both children. However, there are no direct quotes or independent confirmations to substantiate this part of Bower’s claim. Requesting a DNA test for an unborn baby who had not yet been delivered would be remarkably intrusive and disrespectful if true. Nonetheless, given the context of Charles’s strained relationship with Meghan, it is not entirely implausible that he harbored private suspicions.
When Lilibet was born, she, too, was fully embraced as eighth in line to the throne by the royal family without publicly voiced doubts. No questions about her heritage have emerged either. Currently residing in California after stepping back from royal duties in 2020, the Sussexes have given interviews criticizing the institution and their experiences within it. In their interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, neither Harry nor Meghan alleged that Charles had ever asked to see their children’s DNA or directly questioned Archie and Lilibet’s paternity.
It is important to note that, on the record, Harry and Meghan did not confirm or deny Bower’s latest claims. This may be due to legal concerns. Privately, if the situation is true, it would likely further damage relationships within the family.