Prince Harry ‘intended to cause trouble’ after ‘conflicted’ feelings over Camilla and Charles marriage
On April 9, the king, 76, and queen, 77, will celebrate 20 years of marriage. They married in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall in 2005.
It came during a difficult time for the royal family, with much scandal surrounding Charles and Camilla’s relationship following their affair during their first marriages.
Prince Harry had ‘conflicted’ feelings over Charles and Camilla marriage
The Duke of Sussex, 40, spoke about the marriage in his 2023 memoir, Spare. He said that he and brother Prince William begged their father not to remarry after the death of their mother Princess Diana.
However, he said they both approved of Camilla.
Now, speaking to Royal Insider, commentator Richard Fitzwilliams has said the pair must have had “deeply conflicted feelings”.
He told us: “It must have been extremely painful for William, in particular, during the period where the so called War of the Waleses took place. William was reportedly deeply upset watching Panorama at Eton,” referring to Diana’s infamous 1995 Panorama interview in which she spoke about the breakdown of her marriage to Charles.
Richard continued: “The irony was that, whilst their marriage disintegrated publicly, both Charles and Diana were devoted parents.
“In his recent memoir Spare, Harry fully intended to cause trouble for the monarchy. His claim that both he and William begged their father not to marry Camilla cannot easily be challenged.”
Richard said William and Harry probably had “deeply conflicted feelings” for “obvious and understandable reasons”.
He added: “Harry admits ‘he was finally going to be with the woman he loved’ and that they had wished their father well.”
Harry’s comments about Camilla ‘red line’ for Charles
Richard continued: “When he claimed in Spare that he believed Camilla had sacrificed him on her personal PR altar and called her ‘dangerous’, a red line was crossed for Charles, especially when he repeated it in television interviews.”
Richard went on to say that there’s “little doubt that Camilla wanted good relationships” with both William and Harry.
He added: “Obviously this was pivotal for Charles and William has undoubtedly appreciated what she has offered his father, especially now in his year of most need.”
What did Prince Harry say about Camilla in Spare?
In Spare, Prince Harry spoke openly about his feelings over Charles and Camilla’s marriage.
He wrote of his father’s decision to remarry: “Despite Willy [Prince William] and me urging him not to, Pa was going ahead. We pumped his hand, wished him well. No hard feelings.
“We recognised that he was finally going to be with the woman he loved, the woman he’d always loved.”
Prince Harry has become somewhat estranged from his family, in particular with his older brother William amid their rift.
The brothers have reportedly not seen eye-to-eye in recent years, and some reports claim they no longer talk.
But how has their once close bond become so distant? Let’s take a look.
Prince Harry’s ‘rift’ with brother William
Rumours of a rift between the brothers emerged some years ago. According to insiders in late 2018, Harry wasn’t happy with the effort William made for Meghan Markle to feel welcome within the royal family.
Then in 2019, Prince William allegedly warned his brother of his new relationship with the American actress. Apparently, the Prince of Wales warned his younger brother over the fast pace of the romance.
But his comments left Harry furious, with a royal commentator claiming it “riled” him up.
Prince Harry hinted at strained relationship in 2019
In 2019, the Duke of Sussex addressed his relationship with William. He told ITV: “We’re brothers, we’ll always be brothers. And we’re certainly on different paths at the moment, but I’ll always be there for him, as I know he’ll always be there for me.”
However, after Meghan and Harry’s royal exit in 2020, the couple’s behaviour that followed caused more strain.
They made a string of allegations against the royal family in their 2021 Oprah interview, including claims of mistreatment within the firm.
Harry also alleged that his father, King Charles, and brother were “trapped” within the institution.
Harry’s comments about ‘fight’ with William in memoir Spare
Then in his 2023 memoir Spare, Harry revealed an alleged encounter with William in which the the future king got physical with him. It was during an argument over Meghan, according to Harry.
He wrote: “He grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor. I landed on the dog’s bowl, which cracked under my back, the pieces cutting into me. I lay there for a moment, dazed, then got to my feet and told him to get out.”
The state of William and Harry’s relationship now isn’t confirmed. However, sources claim that Harry is eager to mend relations with his family.
He then sparked controversy with his comments about Camilla specifically. Harry wrote: “I had complex feelings about gaining a step parent who, I believed, had recently sacrificed me on her personal PR altar.
“In a funny way I even wanted Camilla to be happy. Maybe she’d be less dangerous if she was happy?”
During an interview in 2023 for Good Morning America, the Duke of Sussex addressed his comments about Camilla. He said: “I don’t look at her as an evil stepmother. I see someone who married into this institution, and has done everything she can to improve her own reputation and her own image, for her own sake.”
