Royal biographer Tom Bower has called King Charles III “weak” over his handling of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s return to Britain. He urged the king to tell the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to leave and rule out any return to official royal duties.
Bower’s criticism comes more than two months after the couple returned to Britain following six years in California. Buckingham Palace has already told officials that Harry and Meghan remain non-working royals. Bower wants Charles to make clear that the arrangement is permanent.
Tom Bower Urges Charles to Take a Harder Line
According to RadarOnline, Bower made the remarks in a conversation with The Royalist podcast host Tom Sykes. Sykes claimed Harry had been provided with protection vehicles and other courtesies associated with royal service. He questioned whether Charles’ handling of the couple’s return could damage his legacy.
King Charles III addresses US Congress – Associated Press, YouTube
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Bower agreed and argued that Charles avoids confrontation. He also suggested the king feels guilty about Harry’s childhood, especially after Princess Diana’s death. In Bower’s view, round-the-clock coverage makes it harder for the royal family to keep those tensions private.
“He’s got to decide to get rid of them. Tell them to leave,” Bower said.
Buckingham Palace Has Already Clarified Their Status
In September, Buckingham Palace sent guidance to government and military officials and the king’s local representatives. The letter said Harry and Meghan should be treated as private citizens in their business and charity work. Mandatory reported that the couple retain their royal styles, “His Royal Highness” for Harry and “Her Royal Highness” for Meghan, and continue to refrain from using them.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – YouTube, SkyNews Australia
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The Sussexes have continued to appear in public, including at charity engagements in Nottingham in October. They carry out that work in a private capacity under the palace’s guidance. Sykes’ criticism centers on whether the courtesies Harry allegedly receives blur that boundary in practice.
The Sussexes’ Return Follows Years of Public Disputes
By the time Harry and Meghan returned to Britain in August, they had spent years airing grievances about the royal life they left behind in 2020. They shared their accounts in an interview with Oprah Winfrey and in their Netflix series Harry & Meghan. In his memoir, Spare, Harry also described a private confrontation with his brother, Prince William.
Charles reportedly welcomed the chance to spend more time with his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Both enrolled in British schools. During their October school break, the family reportedly traveled overseas to spend time with close friends.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle – YouTube, E! News
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The trip coincided with allegations from Meghan’s half-brother that their father, Thomas Markle Sr., had possessed illegal material involving children. Thomas Sr. denied the allegations. A friend said Meghan was deeply upset by the claims, though it remains unclear whether they influenced the family’s travel plans.
The attention paid to a school-break trip illustrates Bower’s point about how difficult it is for the royals to keep family matters private. The palace can spell out Harry and Meghan’s public status in a letter. Charles faces a more personal decision about how much distance to keep from his son while making time for his grandchildren.
Do you think King Charles should take a harder line with Harry and Meghan? Sound off and let us know!
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