Prince Charles and his son, Prince Harry, are still going through a very rough patch some eight months after the bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Earlier this month, reports indicated that Charles was ready to move forward and let bygones be bygones when it comes to his youngest child and his wife, Meghan Markle.
It was said that he had started answering Harry’s phone calls. Well, according to new reports, things are headed in the wrong direction again.
Prince Harry throws Charles under the bus again
A Saudi billionaire named Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz is at the center of a “cash for honors” scandal that has led to the departure of Charles’s longtime aide, Michael Fawcett, from his role at The Prince’s Foundation in November.
It is alleged that Mahfouz donated close to $2 million to the Prince of Wales‘s foundation to become a British citizen and receive high honors. An investigation into the matter has been launched.
Months after the donation, the wealthy man received the British Empire’s Order (CBE).
Harry had also received over $65,000 from the billionaire in 2013 for his Sentebale charity, which focuses on helping children in some African countries like Lesotho.
After the scandal broke, Harry released a statement to distance himself from Mahfouz and make things look worse for his father instead of staying silent.
Harry’s statement read: “It is disappointing that The Sunday Times, knowing all the facts, has chosen to encourage speculation by being deliberately vague to try to create a falsified link between the Duke of Sussex and the CBE scandal, of which he had no knowledge or involvement.”
It continued: “The duke and his advisers, as well as his non-profit Sentebale, severed ties with Mr. Mahfouz and his associates in 2015, no longer accepting further donations to Sentebale and discontinuing any plans; for a fundraising event amid growing concerns over the motives for his support.”
It concluded with: “The duke had one planned meeting with this donor nearly eight years ago, did not introduce him to any members of the royal family, and expressed his concerns about the donor.”
For many, the move and the so-called digs contained in the statement will not ease the tensions between father and son.
Prince Charles is hurt by Harry’s latest move
Charles, Prince of Wales, is working hard to be in the best position to become King after Queen Elizabeth‘s reign is over. However, the scandal is tarnishing his brand.
With his statement, Harry is indirectly criticizing his father’s ethics. A friend of Prince Charles has spoken to the Sun to reveal the father’s hurt feelings.
The source stated: “Charles is deeply shocked and disappointed by Harry’s latest statement which effectively threw his father under the bus. There are fears that this episode with Mahfouz could even be a chapter in Harry’s autobiography.”
The person went on to say: “This attack was more damaging than the swipe at Charles’s parenting skills because this was a challenge to the way he conducts his business which is far more damaging to the future King. There is no way for Charles to fight back and defend himself publicly, so he keeps a dignified silence.”
Charles’s pal concluded: “These constant barbs about his father from America could be very damaging to his reign. Attempts have been made to clear the air, but they have barely spoken since the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral. Charles very much loves his son, and he will not be having a pop at Harry in return. It’s that simple. He is not going to join in because loving his son is the thing that matters the most.”
This is only the latest episode in the recent saga between the two royals.
Prince Harry puts Charles at the center of his issues with the royals
In his interviews, Prince Harry has often portrayed his father as a man who failed to protect him against the trappings of the British Monarchy.
The philanthropist said his dad, like his brother, Prince William, is trapped in a system that fosters “genetic pain” throughout generations.
This is one of the main reasons why he decided to move to the United States in 2020. And when a book suggested that Charles is the one who had questions about the skin tone of his future grandchildren, Harry did not come out to defend him.
While the apparent heir to the throne said in a rare statement that the allegation was not true; some observers say, Harry and Meghan could have easily chosen to clear his name if they wanted to.
It seems unlikely now that father and son will be able to repair their relationship in a rapid fashion.
