Prince William’s Frosty Behavior Toward Charles at Funeral Raises Eyebrows — Is Harry to Blame?
Speculation about things being strained between King Charles and Prince William has been swirling for months, and their latest public appearance did little to quiet the chatter. At a recent gathering during the Duchess of Kent’s funeral, observers noticed the cold vibe between the father and son. William stood beside his father but gave little to no sign of acknowledgement, igniting questions about whether the frostiness had anything to do with Prince Harry’s surprise reunion with Charles, which the Prince of Wales is known to have dubbed as a 'terrible, terrible idea.'
Video clips from the event soon went viral, with viewers offering their own interpretations of the awkward exchange. A Reddit user remarked, “This isn’t about Harry. Will and Charles have always had a contentious relationship. The lies were that they were ever united.” Another added, “William acts like Charles isn't there, and Kate's face falls as soon as she finishes greeting Charles lol. I have to admit, I am cackling at how dysfunctional this family is.”
Cameras also captured the moment Charles turned to greet Kate Middleton. She offered a small curtsy and smiled politely, but her expression appeared to change quickly once the interaction ended. Some online commentators thought she looked visibly anxious. “It looked to me as though Kate was nervous and not sure if Charles would acknowledge her, but when he did, she tried to show as much respect as possible. Honestly, Kate looks like a nervous wreck in that video. I feel bad for her,” one wrote.
As for the chatter about Harry, insiders suggest that the tensions between Charles and William are deeper and predate the Duke of Sussex’s UK return. Royal correspondent Tom Sykes had earlier told The Daily Beast that father and son "do not meet informally as a rule" and that their strained relationship was especially visible during the family’s summer holiday in Balmoral. Instead of spending time together, Charles retreated to his private home at Birkhall, leaving William and his family largely to themselves at Balmoral. According to Sykes, “The vast majority of their communication is mediated by their private secretaries.”
William grew up watching his parents’ marriage unravel in the public eye and has reportedly never fully reconciled with the fallout from his father’s affair with Camilla, now Queen. Sources say the memories of that period left William sceptical of Charles’s judgement and wary of his approach to leadership. Sykes argued that the Prince of Wales holds the perception that Charles was a 'poor parent' who was “often absent and remains distant from his Wales grandchildren.”
It is also believed that the father and son disagree over the pace at which to modernize the monarchy and the balance of duty and family life. Against this backdrop, Harry’s brief reunion with his father, which reportedly blindsided William, was seen by some as an added provocation.