A royal insider says that not only is the family dynamic a little tense right now, but birthdays in general appear to be a sensitive topic behind the gilded gates of Buckingham Palace.
King Charles may have surprised many royal fans by wishing Prince Harry a happy 40th birthday this year.
As indicated by royal expert Rebecca English, when Charles turned 75 last year, Harry called his father. However, the way the discussion and subtleties of their call hit the news was a sensitive area.
English explained that Charles was glad to call his son this year but is still being cautious in his relationship with Harry.
Charles is angry and hurt, but he is still Harry’s father at the end of the day. This is why it has been said that, while he is keeping his distance, he will never completely close the door on their relationship. She elaborated on the Daily Mail’s Royal Residents private podcast, saying that Charles is indeed upset about Harry’s birthday message to him getting a lot of attention last year.
One significant detail was that Harry and Meghan Markle sent Charles a video featuring Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie, which was particularly challenging for the king. He felt it was a personal matter that shouldn’t have been public information.
One thing that frustrated Charles was when Harry called to wish him a happy 75th birthday, and his children did a little video singing “Happy Birthday” to their grandfather—someone they scarcely see. English added that shortly after this event, it was leaked from the Sussex side to the media, which crossed a line for the royal family, as very little of their lives is truly private.
As Harry travels across the pond to attend the WellChild Awards on September 30th, there will still be a gap in communication between father and son. Notably, Charles will not be around to see his son, as he has a commitment in Edinburgh to celebrate the Scottish Parliament’s 25th anniversary.
It seems Charles is also prepared to tackle the situation with Prince Andrew in his daily environment. Reports indicate that Charles wanted Andrew out of Royal Lodge and has offered him several options. Sources say the king has given the shamed royal an ultimatum, wanting to resolve the situation swiftly.
Insiders are referring to the situation as “the Andrew issue,” explaining that there are only two potential choices for Charles to address it. The first option is for Andrew to become financially independent and figure out how to pay for everything, including the upkeep of his home and any desired personal security.
The Mirror adds that Andrew currently has no income aside from his naval pension, making it difficult for him to cover his expenses without assistance from the royal family or his ex, Sarah Ferguson. Andrew stepped back from his royal duties years ago but has continued living at Royal Lodge. His security costs £3 million every year, currently funded by the king.
When Charles announced earlier this year that he would no longer pay for Andrew’s security detail, it became clear he wanted to move on from the royal drama. A friend added that insiders are now referring to this situation as “the saga of Royal Lodge,” indicating that things are escalating.