King Charles is facing growing pressure to reconcile with Prince Harry, as royal experts warn that the continuing family feud could have serious personal and public consequences. Renowned royal commentator Valentine Low has cautioned that the emotional divide between the monarch and his youngest son is only widening, particularly following Prince Harry’s candid BBC interview in which he revealed that his father “won’t speak to me” and expressed concern for the King’s health.
Although Harry’s remarks appeared heartfelt, experts say the interview may have inadvertently worsened tensions. “It wasn’t meant to be an attack, but it would be seen as one,” Low told People magazine, suggesting that the Duke’s attempt at vulnerability may have been misinterpreted within royal circles.
According to Low, one of the key issues blocking reconciliation is the lack of a trusted confidant encouraging the King to reach out. “There is not a ‘good angel’ in Charles’ ear convincing him to be a good dad and make the first move,” she explained.
The absence of such a figure, Low suggests, means that neither side is likely to take the initiative needed to repair the fractured relationship. While Harry has publicly signaled openness to reconciliation, the silence from Buckingham Palace indicates little movement toward healing the rift.
Despite the personal strain, Low believes the public can distinguish between King Charles’s duties as a sovereign and his private challenges as a father. “The public understands what King Charles is going through,” she said, noting that most people can “separate the private drama from his public role.”
Still, Low emphasized that the situation is not without risk. “This is a family rift rather than a constitutional rift — it’s what happens to families,” she said. “Both sides have to reach a point where they realise they can’t carry on as they are.”
The continuing fallout from Harry’s memoir Spare, his legal battles in the UK, and his and Meghan Markle’s high-profile departure from royal life have all contributed to the lingering tension. With each new public comment or missed opportunity for connection, the distance between father and son appears to grow.
As King Charles continues to juggle royal responsibilities amid his ongoing cancer treatment, the personal strain adds a deeply human layer to the monarchy’s current challenges. Whether a reconciliation is on the horizon remains uncertain, but observers agree that both sides will eventually need to reckon with the damage caused by prolonged silence.