King Charles is reportedly feeling “hurt” and “appalled” after discovering a secret plan by Prince Harry to sever ties with the royal family by adopting his late mother Princess Diana’s maiden name, Spencer, in place of the royal surname Mountbatten-Windsor.
According to royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams, the move, which has not been made official, has been seen as a deeply emotional blow to the monarch, who, despite the ongoing estrangement, is said to still care deeply for his youngest son. Fitzwilliams described the decision as “deeply hurtful” to Charles, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment.
The father-son relationship has become increasingly strained, primarily due to Harry’s ongoing legal battle with the UK government over his loss of police protection when in Britain. That legal dispute has reportedly added a legal barrier between the two, preventing personal communication during the proceedings.
Royal historian Marlene Koenig told Us Weekly that the King’s silence should not be interpreted as coldness or rejection, but rather as a necessary legal precaution. “He legally couldn’t talk to him about it,” an insider explained, noting that any direct communication could potentially complicate the case further.
Koenig added that King Charles may be applying a “tough love” strategy, hoping that some distance might eventually lead to healing. “Charles never stopped loving Harry, but he doesn’t want to [cause] any more tension within the family,” she said. “He can’t bring his two sons together, that’s something they need to do.”
The situation has been made even more painful by the King’s limited contact with his California-based grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet. According to Koenig, Charles finds it heartbreaking that he not only can’t speak freely with Harry but also rarely sees his grandchildren.
“It must be awfully painful for the King that he doesn’t see his grandchildren and that he can’t talk to his son for fear of what will happen,” Koenig added. “But he’s keeping his distance until they can find a way to talk.” The revelation about Harry’s consideration to take the Spencer name, a symbol closely tied to his mother’s legacy, underscores how fractured his relationship with the royal institution has become.
While the move may represent an effort to reclaim his personal identity, it also appears to have deepened the emotional divide with his father. As tensions persist, hopes for reconciliation remain uncertain, but the emotional toll on both sides is becoming increasingly evident.