Prince Harry Accused of Using Kids to ‘Emotionally Blackmail’ King Charles

Relations between Prince Harry and his father, King Charles III, have reached a new low in the ongoing dispute over Harry’s security arrangements in the UK.

Friends of King Charles claim that Harry is employing “emotional blackmail” by insinuating that the King may never see his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet, unless he intervenes to ensure Harry’s family gets automatic security. The accusations suggest Harry is pressuring the monarch to leverage his influence for police protection in the UK.

However, a source close to Harry refutes these allegations, emphasizing that genuine threats from neo-Nazi and extremist groups exist. They argue that Harry’s primary concern is the safety of his family and their ability to connect with his home country. The source also highlighted that Harry has offered to personally fund the security to avoid any cost to British taxpayers.

This intense exchange marks the latest chapter in Harry’s protracted legal battle with the UK Government over his security status. Harry lost his automatic police protection in the UK after stepping back from his royal duties. His offer to pay for such protection was rejected, as British police services are not available for hire. Harry has faced multiple legal defeats in his bid to reinstate these privileges and is preparing for a last-ditch appeal.

Recently, Harry mentioned in a television interview that Meghan Markle could not safely return to the UK due to fears of acid or knife attacks, fueled by negative tabloid coverage. While he did not explicitly mention his children, Harry has previously indicated that he also considers them targets for such threats.

Friends of the King dismissed Harry’s security fears as exaggerated, accusing him of using his children’s potential estrangement from their grandfather as leverage. They stressed that King Charles, who is undergoing treatment for a serious illness, cannot easily travel to visit the grandchildren. Additionally, Charles’s commitment to royal duties makes frequent travel impractical.

Another royal insider suggested that denying the grandchildren a relationship with the King is unwise, emphasizing the importance of family and heritage. They noted that Charles would always prioritize his duty to the Crown over personal matters, mirroring the commitment demonstrated by his mother, Queen Elizabeth.

A contemporary of William and Harry implied that Harry’s threats are a continuation of his earlier warnings when he was evicted from Frogmore Cottage. The same source argued that Harry’s recent comments about Meghan avoiding the UK suggested an underlying threat related to the children.

The last in-person interaction between Charles and his grandchildren was during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. Reports have surfaced about Charles’s dissatisfaction with only knowing his grandchildren through video calls. A source told a UK tabloid that the King values family connections highly and desires more than just virtual interactions with his grandchildren.

All the while, the source close to Harry reiterated that the Prince’s security concerns are serious and lifelong. Harry’s profile as a royal and his military service make him a distinct target, which has only intensified with recent extremist threats. Although Harry and Meghan fund their own security team, UK police protection is deemed necessary while in the country.

A palace insider commented that the issue requires Harry to recognize why King Charles hasn’t intervened to override RAVEC’s decisions. They suggested that consistent security protocols and pre-agreed police monitoring suit the Palace’s interests, preventing unannounced appearances by the Sussexes.

Since stepping down as a senior royal, Harry has persistently challenged the UK government’s stance on his security. He argues that his high-profile status and the subsequent threats against him and his family warrant proper protection.

In his recent interview, Harry linked his security concerns with the sensationalist coverage by the UK tabloid press. He voiced fears that this publicity could incite violent attacks against his family, emphasizing his unwillingness to bring Meghan back to the UK without sufficient security.

As previously reported, Omid Scobie’s book “Endgame” referred to Harry’s plea to his father regarding their eviction from Frogmore Cottage, allegedly asking, “Don’t you want to see your grandchildren again?” Scobie criticized Charles’s decision as a reaction influenced by a “wounded father” caught in an emotionally detached institutional system.

Source: The Daily Beast