Charles Allegedly Snapped ‘I’m Not a Bank’ When Harry Demanded Money After Royal Exit: Book

(L) King Charles at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Epsom, England; (R) Prince Harry at the Palace of Westminster in London, United Kingdom. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L&R) Max Mumby/Indigo)

Jan. 07 2026, Published 06:41 AM. ET

Fed up with the repeated requests for money, King Charles allegedly reached a breaking point with Prince Harry and declared, “I’m not a bank” after the latter “swore at him and demanded funds.” The claim comes from Robert Jobson's new book The Windsor Legacy. Jobson, in his work, describes the financial dispute as suggestive of the broader tensions that existed in the family long before Harry and Meghan Markle stepped away from royal life.

King Charles, and Prince Harry attend the New Zealand Memorial Service marking the centenary of the World War One Gallipoli campaign. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Paul Edwards-Pool) — King Charles and Prince Harry attend the New Zealand Memorial Service marking the centenary of the World War One Gallipoli campaign. (Image Source: Getty Images | Paul Edwards-Pool)

Jobson claims that the demands were made after Harry and Markle stepped down as working royals and moved to California seeking financial freedom. Charles, then Prince of Wales, reportedly had become increasingly frustrated by his son's behavior. A source close to Harry has, however, dismissed the account and stated to Page Six that the Duke is “not a big fan of fiction.”

Jobson's book also noted how the financial tension led to years of strain that ultimately also wore Queen Elizabeth down. While the late Queen is known for welcoming Markle into the royal family with warmth, viewing her “dual heritage, beauty, and communication skills” as assets, Jobson claims that by the time the Sussexes moved to the US, behind Palace walls, the Queen was “tired of the drama.” While she wished the couple well, the book notes that she eventually had her grandson’s calls redirected to his father. As the negotiations took place during the couple’s exit, the Queen was allegedly baffled by Harry’s conduct, and described the situation as 'quite mad,' feeling 'let down' by what she viewed as 'a short-sighted and missed opportunity.'

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Harry attend the annual Chelsea Flower Show at Royal Hospital Chelsea in London, England. (Image Source: Getty Images | Julian Simmonds - WPA Pool)

As per the royal author, tensions had surfaced earlier as well. He claims that before the Sussexes’ wedding in 2018, Harry had locked horns with the late Queen's trusted dresser, Angela Kelly, over a tiara Markle wanted to wear. When the dispute came to the Queen’s notice, she was reportedly 'very disappointed.' While Charles initially approved of Markle and believed she was good for his son, Jobson reveals that by the time of their engagement announcement, his enthusiasm had faded. When the staff offered congratulations to His Majesty, Charles’ response was described as 'notably restrained.'

Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Chris Jackson — Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend a Wheelchair Tennis match during the Invictus Games 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Image Source: Getty Images | Chris Jackson)

The book further challenged the narrative that Markle alone was the reason for tensions behind Palace walls. While the Sussexes reportedly sought relief through treatments from a celebrity acupuncturist, Ross Bar, as per the staff, Harry “stayed on edge, petulant and short-tempered.” Jobson asserted that while Markle has often been perceived as the demanding one, “it was Harry, trying too hard to make everything perfect, who was the one making waves.” Taken together, these claims paint a picture of familial tensions on the rise that culminated in Charles's stark reminder to his son that financial support like royal patience also has its limits.