King Charles has shared a warm birthday tribute to the Duchess of Gloucester on social media amid reports suggesting he has personally asked the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, to intervene in the long-standing rift between Prince Harry and the royal family.
The birthday message, posted on the Royal Family’s official social media accounts, featured a photo of the Duchess of Gloucester at Royal Ascot wearing a hat by Barnaby Horn, a graduate of The King’s Foundation. The caption read, “Happy Birthday to The Duchess of Gloucester!”
This seemingly routine message came just as a new report by Closer magazine claimed the monarch is growing increasingly distressed over his distant relationship with his California-based grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
According to the report, King Charles has privately urged Kate Middleton to act as a peacemaker and reach out to Prince Harry on his behalf. An insider revealed, “It breaks Charles’ heart that he hasn’t been able to build a relationship with Archie and Lilibet – he’s already missed so many milestones that he can never get back.”
The source added, “The hope is that Harry will stop being so hardheaded and bring the kids over to spend time with their grandfather, but so far, he hasn’t made any moves towards that, so Kate is scrambling to find some sort of solution.”
Prince Harry, who now resides in California with Meghan Markle and their two children, has only made sporadic visits to the UK since stepping back from royal duties in 2020. According to reports, King Charles has only met Lilibet once and Archie a handful of times, a situation that weighs heavily on the monarch.
Royal observers note that Kate Middleton, known for her diplomatic demeanor and commitment to family harmony, may be the only royal with enough goodwill on both sides to initiate meaningful dialogue. However, no official confirmation has been provided by Kensington Palace regarding any such outreach.
While the King’s birthday message to the Duchess of Gloucester might appear unrelated, some royal commentators believe it’s part of a broader effort to project unity and stability within the family amid ongoing tensions.
Whether the Princess of Wales will succeed in bridging the royal divide remains to be seen, but sources close to the Palace suggest King Charles is hopeful that time and gentle persuasion might eventually bring his sons—and their families—back together.