The deepening tension between King Charles and Prince Harry is reportedly taking a toll on the monarch’s relationship with his youngest grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. While King Charles is said to be devoted to playing an active role in all of his grandchildren’s lives, royal insiders suggest that strained family ties are keeping him distant from Harry and Meghan Markle’s children.
King Charles Misses Key Moments in Archie and Lilibet’s Lives
Despite his dedication to Prince William and Kate Middleton’s three children, King Charles has reportedly missed several milestones in the lives of Archie and Lilibet. According to royal commentators, the monarch has expressed a sincere desire to be present for all of his grandchildren. However, the ongoing rift with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex appears to be complicating those intentions.
When Charles ascended the throne, Archie and Lilibet were formally granted their royal titles as Prince and Princess, in accordance with royal tradition. Their new status also included the HRH (His/Her Royal Highness) prefix—though it has stirred further complications behind closed palace doors.
Tensions Rise Over Royal Titles and Family Names
According to a recent report from Daily Mail‘s Richard Eden, Prince Harry has allegedly contemplated dropping the “Mountbatten-Windsor” surname for his children in favor of adopting his late mother Princess Diana’s family name, Spencer. The move, reportedly driven by frustration and delays over official documentation, would be a major break from royal naming traditions.
Sources revealed to The Guardian that the delay in updating Archie and Lilibet’s travel documents—expected to take only a few weeks—dragged on for more than six months. At the heart of the issue was confusion and resistance related to the children’s HRH titles. One insider claimed that King Charles was reluctant to fully endorse the use of those titles, stating, “The King hadn’t wanted Archie and Lili to carry the titles, most of all the HRH.”
This delay reportedly pushed Harry to reach out to his uncle, Charles Spencer, for advice and support. According to sources, Harry even asked whether the children could take the Spencer surname if royal obstacles persisted.
Sussexes Want to Leave Decision to Their Children
Despite their frustrations, Harry and Meghan are said to have chosen to keep the HRH titles for Archie and Lilibet—not for personal use, but so the children can decide their own paths as they grow older. The intention is to allow them the choice to embrace royal duties or lead private lives away from the spotlight.
Buckingham Palace, however, has denied any interference in the processing of the children’s passports or any objections to the inclusion of HRH titles.
Royal Rift Shows No Signs of Healing
The emotional distance between King Charles and Prince Harry’s family continues to underscore the broader tensions within the royal household. While Charles is known to be a loving grandfather, his limited connection with Archie and Lilibet reflects a relationship still overshadowed by unresolved issues.
Whether the royal family will eventually bridge this divide remains uncertain. For now, the Sussexes continue to forge their path independently, as debates over names, titles, and traditions persist behind palace doors.
