Prince Harry Is Still 'Distant' From King Charles Amid Security Struggles: 'Nothing Has Changed'

Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Prince Harry's relationship with the royal family has deteriorated, especially with King Charles III, who no longer takes his calls.

During a recent court hearing, the Duke of Sussex fought to regain taxpayer-funded security, claiming unfair treatment by the RAVEC committee.

The emotional toll has been high, with Prince Harry stating his "worst fears" were confirmed during his recent court appearances regarding the reason why his security was downgraded.

Harry's recent appearance in a London court, where he spent two days fighting to regain taxpayer-funded security for himself and his family, reportedly received no acknowledgment or support from his royal relatives, further widening the rift between him and his father, Charles.

According to palace insiders, the lack of response from senior royals speaks volumes about the ongoing tension.

"I don't think there is any rapprochement," one source told People Magazine. "Nothing has changed."

"They are distant," another shared with the publication.

Despite Charles's ongoing health battles, the emotional distance between father and son appears to show no sign of narrowing.

Insiders reveal that their communication is virtually nonexistent, with the monarch intentionally keeping interactions minimal. This is seemingly a calculated move from the king, as even a well-meaning conversation could potentially complicate Harry's legal battle with the UK government.

Another source shared with the publication that Harry "feels very strongly" about regaining security for himself and his family as "something he must fight for."

Yet, despite his resolve, his relationship with Charles remains at a standstill. According to insiders, the father and son are no longer in contact.

Charles, now 76 and undergoing cancer treatment, is said to have stopped responding to Harry's calls and ignored his written attempts to reconnect.

In a particularly telling moment, Harry reportedly only discovered Charles had been hospitalized on March 27 through the news.

The Palace, according to insiders, made a conscious decision not to notify him directly, hoping to avoid fueling "the drama."

Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith weighed in, noting the delicate nature surrounding Harry's ongoing court battle with the UK government over security.

"[The legal battle] puts Harry in direct contact with the people who are carrying out the king's orders," she explained. "If his father was to say something even seemingly innocuous, it could end up landing in the middle of the court case."

After a two-day hearing at London's Royal Courts of Justice on April 9 regarding the reinstatement of his security detail, Harry admitted to People that his "worst fears have been confirmed by the whole legal disclosure in this case — and that's really sad."

The proceedings focused on Harry's appeal to restore taxpayer-funded protection, which was withdrawn in 2020 when he and Meghan formally stepped away from their roles as senior working royals.

Throughout the hearing, the Duke of Sussex remained attentive, jotting notes, consulting with his legal team, and closely tracking every argument.

In early 2020, Harry and Meghan had hoped for a hybrid arrangement: a life abroad that would still allow them to serve the monarchy while enjoying a degree of independence.

"We were trying to create this happy house," Harry recalled of their proposal to Queen Elizabeth.

Following the Sandringham Summit that January, Harry left with the understanding that their security would remain in place.

Court documents later revealed that Queen Elizabeth had written in support of their need for "effective security."

Yet, only weeks later, the decision-making body known as RAVEC reversed course, leaving Harry and Meghan without protection.

For two tense days of hearings, Harry's legal representatives argued that the decision-making process behind his security downgrade had been fundamentally flawed.

They claimed the RAVEC committee "diverted" from standard protocols, which ultimately left the Duke feeling "singled out" for "unjustified and inferior treatment" that left him without protections typically granted to others in the "Other VIP" category — a group that includes celebrities and former heads of state.

Significantly, RAVEC is composed of figures from the Royal Household, including senior advisors to Charles himself.

According to sources close to Harry, he holds the belief that his father has the authority and the opportunity to advocate for a change in that decision.

Much of the April 9 hearing at London's Royal Courts of Justice was conducted behind closed doors.

However, the limited information that was disclosed reportedly struck Harry and confirmed his "fears" about the handling of his security.

While Harry has worked to move on and forgive much of what happened since 2016 onward, the issue of personal and family safety remains a deeply personal sore spot.

"People would be shocked by what's being held back," he shared.

After attending court proceedings in the UK last week over the security issue, Harry implied that his protection was downgraded in an attempt to "trap" him and his wife, Meghan, in the royal family.

According to The Sun, his remarks have left the Royal Family on alert, with a Buckingham Palace insider saying: "There's a lot of worry that Harry could tell all in a book deal or even follow Meghan's lead and make a podcast."

"He's hinted he has discovered secrets during the hearings, particularly regarding the treatment of him and Meghan, that would shock us all," the insider continued. "It is a veiled threat essentially that he will tell all if it doesn't go the way he wants it to."