Prince Harry US.King Charles It's Even Worse Than It Seems

Prince Harry didn't hold back as he left London's Royal Court of Justice on April 9, telling reporters he was “exhausted and overwhelmed” after attending a two-day appeal hearing over the removal of his police protection. T

- JAMIE HARKIN

The Duke of Sussex said the public would “be shocked” to hear “what's being held back” in the case — some of which played out in private — and that his “worst fears have been confirmed by the whole legal disclosure,” adding, “and that's really sad.”

In the days that followed, it became clear that Harry, 40, believes the decision to suspend security for his family (he and wife Meghan Markle, 43, are parents to Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3) had been a calculated move by the Palace to prevent Harry and Meghan from abandoning their official royal posts. (The couple left the U.K. in early 2020 amid growing tension between them and Harry's brother, Prince William, his wife, Princess Kate, and Harry's dad, King Charles.)

FRACTURED BOND

The ongoing court case has highlighted the deepening rift between Harry and the 76-year-old king. “This has been terrible for Harry’s relationship with Charles,” says a royal insider. “Harry blames Charles and thinks he can intervene. But [Charles] can't, and it just continues Harry’s narrative that he’s been cast out.” The father and son (who haven't seen each other since early 2024) failed to meet up despite both being in the U.K. — Harry arrived in London on April 6, while Charles was in town for a scheduled medical treatment before leaving for Italy the following day. (The monarch announced his cancer diagnosis in February 2024.) “Charles is not answering Harry's messages,” royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams tells Us. “At the moment, Harry does not seem to have a relationship with his father at all. It’s truly sad.”

Royal Wounds