Royal Expert Says Meghan Markle Sent King Charles a ‘Coded Message’ With Staged Photo

Prince Harry's relationship with his father, King Charles, has reportedly worsened after the former's bombshell BBC interview. A day after the courts ruled against Harry’s appeal for state-funded security, Markle shared a family photo on Instagram. Royal expert Ingrid Seward believes the post was a deliberate move to send a clear message to Charles, ahead of Prince Archie’s birthday.

Markle's photo was a black-and-white snap of Harry walking hand-in-hand with Archie, with Princess Lilibet perched on his shoulders, as they strolled in what appeared to be their garden. Chiming in on the same, Seward told The Sun, “I think Meghan was just sending him a message to her father-in-law, or if she wasn't, it looked like that. It looked like she was saying, 'Look what you're missing. Here's your son, and here are your two grandchildren that you probably won't see.” The expert slammed, “I think that...obviously they must have known that would be taken as a slight against Harry's father, the King, it would be very difficult to think that it wasn't.”

During his interview, Harry had said of his father, “Life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has, he won't speak to me because of this security stuff. It would be nice to reconcile.” In response, Seward opined, “He insinuates his father won't see his grandchildren again, but you know his grandchildren do have another grandfather, and they never mentioned that. I think Harry is incapable, or appears incapable, of just remaining quiet.”

Seward’s claims about Markle’s ‘well-timed’ post were also echoed by a royal source. According to the Daily Mail, the post prompted a reaction from the insider who allegedly told royal correspondent Rebecca English, “Well that’s a rather giant f*** you, isn’t it?” They added, “That’s the one thing the Duchess of Sussex does have in common with the royal family: knowing the power of a well-timed image.” Royal watchers also accused Markle of trying to steal the spotlight from Princess Charlotte's birthday celebrations and diverting public attention from the royal events for the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

However, Markle isn't the only one sending a ‘coded message’. Charles reportedly had a befitting response. As reported by The List, the King’s official coronation portrait was made public on May 6, just days after Harry’s interview and Markle’s Instagram post. The outlet reports that through the portrait, Charles aimed to show that he is focused on his role as a monarch rather than pay attention to unnecessary family discord. The King’s recent VE Day appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony was also allegedly seen as a ‘power move’ to send a 'timely message' of royal unity in the face of Harry's claims.