Prince Harry’s Reconciliation With King Charles Hits a Snag After Successful U.S. Visit: Report
Seeing King Charles rub shoulders with Donald Trump, after he took a public dig at their marriage, has allegedly left the Sussexes reeling.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were riding the high of their successful Australia trip, but the mood reportedly shifted once King Charles landed in the US for his state visit. Seeing the King rub shoulders with Donald Trump, after he infamously took a swipe at their marriage, has allegedly not gone down well with the Sussexes. Sources claim Charles's silence and nonchalance on the matter left them both dealing with PTSD, with tensions now so strained that any hopes of reconciliation appear to be hanging by a thread.
Speaking to OK! magazine, an insider revealed that the optics of Charles's trip have reignited painful memories for the Sussexes, given Trump's harsh criticism of them. They said, "Watching Charles appear so relaxed and publicly aligned with Trump, who has openly ridiculed their [Harry and Markle's] marriage, has struck a nerve, has brought up a lot of difficult emotions and feelings, to them, like a very personal affront. It's been, as they would say, 'very triggering' for them." They clarified that while the Duke understands his father's obligation to remain politically neutral, emotionally, critical thinking is not making him or his wife feel any better.
Another source stressed that Harry and Markle are grappling with conflicting emotions as they attempt to balance the personal hurt coming from their families. They explained, "For Meghan especially, there's a real sense of frustration that the negative commentary about them from Trump has been allowed to stand without any form of response or defense." That silence, from her perspective, has only widened her discomfort and left them feeling exposed to more criticism and ridicule. "She and Harry are essentially suffering a form of PTSD over Charles's US visit," they added.
Since Charles' very public snub of not scheduling a visit to meet his grandkids in the US, Harry's efforts to reconcile with him have reportedly hit a rough patch. The insider argued, "That visible warmth only seems to underline how distant things have become between them, and it reinforces the feeling that their relationship is more strained than ever. At the same time, Harry is very aware that speaking out or reacting in the moment would likely escalate matters and create further fallout." The solution, according to the Duke, is to stay 'quiet and keep things contained,' even though it's bothering him and Markle behind the scenes.
Harry and Markle's alleged frustration seems reasonable, as Trump has taken swipes at them over the years. Most recently, in April, when he was questioned inside the Oval Office regarding Harry's statements in Ukraine urging 'American leaders to step up,' he did not hold back, sarcastically saying, "Prince Harry? How's he doing? How's his wife? Please give her my regards." He then added, "I know one thing: Prince Harry is not speaking for the UK. That's for sure. I think I'm speaking for the UK more than Prince Harry. But I appreciate his advice."
