Royal Rifts: The King's Reaction to Harry's Public Outburst

The Royal Drama Unfolds: A Year of Turmoil and Tensions

As the curtains closed on 2024, the British monarchy was still reeling from the devastating health scare that had threatened to upend the very fabric of the institution. King Charles III's medical issues had been a closely guarded secret, with palace officials scrambling to keep the public informed without compromising his delicate condition. But as the months went by, it became increasingly clear that the monarch's focus was on resetting royal operations and putting the drama of 2024 behind him.

With the King's health stabilizing, routine royal news reports began to feature more than just mentions of his medical treatment. The monarch had been busy traveling the world, from Australia in October to Samoa for the Commonwealth summit, and even back home, where he resumed next-to-normal duties. But despite these efforts to return to a sense of normalcy, the palace couldn't help but be reminded that His Majesty was still undergoing cancer treatment.

And so, as the year drew to a close, it became increasingly clear that the royal family's "difficult dukes" – Prince Andrew and Prince Harry – were once again generating more than their fair share of headlines. The Duke of York's private funding arrangements had long been shrouded in mystery, but court documents revealed that an alleged Chinese spy, Yang Tengbo, had been trying to create business opportunities for the prince in China. While there was no suggestion that Andrew knew about Tengbo's shady past, it all painted a picture of a royal outcast desperate to secure money and credibility.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry was busy with his own brand of drama, including a high-profile court case against the British Government over his security arrangements. The Duke of Sussex had long been critical of the Royal Family's handling of his and Meghan's security needs, but this latest move seemed like a step too far even for some royal insiders.

As the King was busy with his state visit to Italy in March 2025, Prince Harry made a surprise appearance in London – just as he had done during the monarch's previous state visits. This time, however, it wasn't just about supporting his brother; this was all about making headlines and stirring up controversy.

The Palace Responds

When asked for comment on Prince Harry's latest antics, palace officials were characteristically measured in their response. "All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts," they said, "with the same conclusion reached on each occasion." But behind the scenes, there was a sense of exasperation and incredulity that Prince Harry could expect any sort of reconciliation with his family after yet another public outburst.

And then, just as it seemed like the drama couldn't get any thicker, Prince Harry gave an explosive interview to the BBC. The Duke of Sussex spoke for over 30 minutes, claiming that dark forces had conspired against him and the Royal Family was to blame. It was a staggering performance – but one that didn't quite add up.

As palace insiders pointed out, this latest move seemed like just another attempt by Prince Harry to deflect attention from his own mistakes. And as for the King's health? Well, let's just say that His Majesty seems to be taking it all in stride. "People are always saying he must be so upset by the Harry business," a member of his inner circle revealed, "but when you have all that is going on in your world, you don't have time to agonize over things beyond your control."

Despite this calm exterior, however, there are signs that the King's team is not entirely at ease with the current situation. A meeting to discuss Operation London Bridge – the code name for the monarch's funeral arrangements – was held in secret back in 2024, but it didn't happen again until late summer 2025.

The Plot Thickens

It turns out that planning for the King's funeral had been put on hold due to his cancer diagnosis. But now, with His Majesty's health stabilizing, officials are dusting off their plans – including a full-day gun carriage drill in Portsmouth and secret practice sessions for the bearer party from the Grenadier Guards.

As we reflect on this tumultuous year, one thing is clear: the British monarchy is still reeling from the drama of 2024. But with the King's health improving, there may be hope on the horizon – or at least, a chance to move on from all this royal ruckus.

Sources

• Robert Hardman's new book, Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story, will be published by Pan Macmillan in August 2025.
• To order your copy, visit thescholarlynote.com or call 020 3176 2937.