Prince Harry’s royal rift with Prince William and King Charles III may have caused some distance among them, but that doesn’t mean they are all completely out of each other’s lives. In fact, the monarch reportedly likes to keep tabs on how Harry is doing through a neutral royal party. Charles is said to seek out Princess Eugenie, a family member he and Harry are both fond of, whenever he wants to check in on his youngest son.
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told OK! magazine she thinks Charles is grateful to have a connection to Harry through his cousin. She added that any connection between the estranged men is crucial.
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“Eugenie undoubtedly does have something of a challenge on her hands to maintain good relationships with both Harry and Meghan—and the rest of the royal family,” Bond said. “But I think the king is probably happy that Harry still has at least one royal cousin he clearly trusts, and presumably wants to see more of.”
“However, I think it’s a positive thing that Charles does have someone he can quietly ask about Harry‘s well-being, if he is so inclined. And Harry can presumably gauge the mood of the family via Eugenie,” she continued. “Any reconciliation—which at this stage still seems unlikely—has to start somewhere and with someone. And that person could possibly be Eugenie.”
The news shows just how close the duke and Eugenie are. Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, recently purchased a house in Portugal, where Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, also own a residence. The acquisition suggests Harry and Meghan intend to make more frequent visits to Europe.
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“I think it perhaps suggests that they DO want their children to know at least some of their U.K. family,” Bond told the Mirror. “It will be good for Archie and Lilibet to spend time with their little cousins, and Eugenie will remain an important link between Harry and the rest of his family.”
She continued: “That’s a positive move because it implies that the children won’t be solely immersed in American culture and will have a better understanding of their European roots.”
Meghan and Harry moved to Montecito, California, in June 2020 after they stepped down as working senior royals. They were asked to vacate Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, England, by Charles last year, which means they haven’t had a personal U.K. residence since.