'Complete silence': Harry and King Charles' rift goes deeper and it's a question of security

Harry and Meghan have come to the UK only a few times since they cut royal ties in 2020. There is strong reason for that and it goes deeper than a little family tiff.

Despite the distance, Harry and Meghan were able to catch up with the Queen on several occasions in her final year. They called in for tea in April on their way to The Hague for the Invictus Games and were able to celebrate Elizabeth’s outstanding achievement of her Platinum Jubilee together.

Then, in May 2024, Meghan was reportedly in the UK for a night, reuniting with her husband in Heathrow before they embarked on their Nigeria visit.

Harry went to the UK with Meghan joining him while they were in Europe for the Invictus Games. This was the duchess' first trip to England since the couple left their official royal commitments behind them. But their visit was tarnished with a family feud regarding security.

Prince Harry and Meghan lost UK taxpayer-funded security when they officially stepped down from their senior royal roles.

Prince Harry had apparently offered to pay out of his own pocket for continued protection by police in the UK, but his request was not approved by the UK Home Office. They say he (like everyone else) is not allowed to privately pay the police.

Prince Harry's legal representatives said in a statement that he "inherited a security risk at birth, for life," and that "While his role within the Institution has changed, his profile as a member of the Royal Family has not. Nor has the threat to him and his family."

Now, People magazine have reported that the real reason for the rift in the family is the question of security and have quoted an insider describing Harry as 'frightened'.

The publication suggests that King Charles did not see Harry on his last trip to the UK in May was due to the ongoing conversation about security - not, as reported from the prince's spokesperson at the time, due to the King's 'full schedule'.

In fact, People quote a friend of Harry's as saying "His calls go unanswered", and that he received no response from letters. When he can get through he gets 'unavailable right now,'  as reported from the exclusive interview. Prince Harry is getting "complete silence".

This puts a massive strain on the relationship between Harry and his father, especially as he "feels the only person who can do anything about it is his father," a royal insider told PEOPLE.

Harry believes that as King, Charles could intervene to ensure he receives police protection, even though Harry's own offer to personally cover the cost was rejected in court.

"Harry is determined to protect his own family at all costs," another source said to the publication. Harry is father to two children: Archie, 5 and Lilibet, 3.

It has been widely reported that King Charles has been pursuing a more streamlined and cost-effective royal family and that Prince Harry and Meghan are being kept as far away from the Firm's spotlight as possible.

But they are, of course, the son and daughter-in-law of Charles. The king’s first speech stated how he loves Meghan and Harry but agreed that their new life is far from the one laid out for them by the royal family.

'True Royalty TV' co-founder Nick Bullen made the message clear in an interview with Fox News Digital. He says the King sent out the following message: "You’ve made your decision on what you want to do, and I support you in that, but that’s your decision."

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