Appearances can be deceiving. The new book by royal experts Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, “Finding Freedom,” proves this is as true for the British royal family as for anyone else. The arrival of Meghan Markle might have triggered the first cracks, but it was in 2020 that the divide between Prince Harry and his family became undeniable. Prince Harry’s departure from royal duties—famously dubbed Megxit—proved the final straw. His memoir, The Substitute, didn’t help mend fences either.
King Charles III: A Birthday That Turns into a “Nightmare”
After King Charles III’s coronation in May 2023, his sons, William and Harry, still haven’t mended their relationship. Even the news of their father’s cancer couldn’t bridge the gap. However, things were vastly different back in the day. William and Harry once shared a close bond, especially after their mother’s death. They stood united against their father, King Charles, with whom their relationship was strained. This tension reached its peak during Charles’ 70th birthday celebration in 2018.
On the surface, the royal family looked joyous during the official birthday photo. King Charles III, Queen Camilla, William, Harry, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, and the young grandkids—Louis, Charlotte, and George—smiled for the camera. But behind those smiles, the scene was anything but idyllic. According to Scobie and Durand, the photo session was a chaotic nightmare. William and Harry were less than cooperative, adding fuel to the fiery relationship with their father.
The Source of Tension
What triggered this tension? Money. Royal experts claim finances were a constant source of conflict. “Charles was both their father and their boss, which made their relationship particularly difficult,” write the authors. At the time, Charles managed the Duchy of Cornwall, holding the purse strings for most of the princes’ expenses, including their wives’ wardrobes.
The authors reveal, “The brothers sometimes had to fight to get additional funds for projects from their father. They had real debates about who should get what,” illustrating the financial strain that chipped away at their familial bonds.
In the end, behind the grandeur and glamor, the British royal family isn’t immune to squabbles and disputes. Finding Freedom opens a window into a royal world where power dynamics, money, and personal relationships collide far more often than one might expect.
This article first appeared on aufeminin.fr – Author: Jessica Ferret
