Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been outspoken critics of the Royal Family, with Queen Camilla among those they have targeted.
In his memoir Spare, Harry described his stepmother as “dangerous” and a “villain,” accusing her of sacrificing him for the sake of her public image.
He also revealed that he and Prince William had pleaded with their father, King Charles, not to marry Camilla, even fearing she might become their “wicked stepmother.” Now, a source close to Camilla has shared how she reacted during the Sussexes’ criticisms, claiming there was “never a fixation at the Palace” on their remarks.
They told Newsweek that the rift between Harry, Meghan, and the Royal Family is rarely, if ever, a topic of discussion.
Harry mentioned Camilla 60 times in Spare, recalling how he and William felt the presence of a “third party” in their parents’ troubled relationship. He also claimed his brother experienced “tremendous guilt” when Charles and Camilla became a couple.
Meanwhile, sources close to the Sussexes have alleged that Harry’s attempts to contact his father have been ignored, particularly regarding his security concerns. Since stepping down as a working royal, Harry lost his automatic right to police protection in the UK and has been fighting to have it reinstated. He has lost multiple legal battles on the matter and is now planning to appeal.
Harry has expressed “mixed feelings” about his father’s marriage to Camilla and accused her of leaking negative stories about him to the press.
He claimed she had used him for her public relations, though he ultimately set aside his emotions when he saw how happy she made his father.
Harry has become largely estranged from the Royal Family, with King Charles last seeing him in February 2024 following his cancer diagnosis. Their meeting lasted less than an hour before Harry returned to California.
According to PEOPLE magazine, Harry believes his father could intervene in the security dispute, but a palace source dismissed this as “wholly inaccurate.” Friends of the Duke say he has struggled to reach Charles, with one stating, “His calls go unanswered.” Another insider added, “Harry is frightened and feels the only person who can help is his father.”
The Sussexes reportedly felt they had no choice but to leave the UK. “The only option was to leave—for their sanity,” a source said. “They believed that by stepping away, there would be less focus on them.”
