King Charles III may want to reach out to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as they deal with the deeply distressing allegations involving Meghan’s father, Thomas Markle Sr., but any contact could be more complicated than a private family conversation. While the King is still a father and grandfather, the royal family is also facing a situation in which even a well-intentioned approach could attract unwanted scrutiny.

The question of whether Charles has spoken to his younger son has naturally come up as the investigation continues and Meghan is reportedly leaning on her mother, Doria Ragland, for support. Harry and Meghan have been living in England, and the latest reports suggest that Meghan has found the distance from her mother particularly difficult during this period.

There is, however, a distinction between what the King might want to do privately and what the Palace may consider safe while legal proceedings are ongoing. Royal commentator Ingrid Seward believes Charles should be able to contact the couple away from public attention, describing the matter as deeply personal.

“It is a very private matter. It is up to the King to speak to them, but he should only do it privately,” Seward, author of Catherine & Diana, told PEOPLE. “I am sure he will. Any father would do that.”

Seward thinks Charles should contact Harry and Meghan privately, away from the public eye. But there is another side to the question. Hardman believes the Palace would be extremely cautious about any contact while the investigation is ongoing, as even a private conversation could be taken the wrong way.

Play

Why Even a Private Conversation Could Cause Problems

Royal author and commentator Robert Hardman believes the legal circumstances make the situation difficult for the royal family. He pointed to the experience surrounding the former Prince Andrew, whose association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein brought years of scrutiny to the monarchy.

“Anything to do with any legal process, as we have seen with the former Prince Andrew case, is something they will avoid at all costs,” Hardman said. “Even a private conversation could be misconstrued.”

That is a significant warning, especially when the distinction between offering family support and becoming involved in a sensitive legal matter could easily become blurred in the public eye. A call from Charles might be intended simply to check on his son and daughter-in-law, but questions could follow about what was discussed, whether anything was said about the investigation, or whether the Palace was attempting to influence the situation.

Hardman believes the Palace would rather avoid any contact that could later become part of the story. Even if Charles simply wanted to check on Harry and Meghan, a private conversation could attract questions about what was said, leaving the King facing a controversy he would rather stay out of.

The Andrew episode has made the Palace particularly conscious of the damage that can follow when royal relationships become entangled with serious legal matters. Charles will be aware that the institution’s response is likely to receive as much attention as his personal feelings.

A Father’s Concern Versus the Palace’s Caution

For Harry, the situation may bring another difficult family question into focus. His relationship with Charles has been strained for years, and the two have had limited contact despite occasional signs that communication might improve. Whether the King chooses to reach out now could carry personal significance, particularly as Harry and Meghan face an upsetting period involving her family.

Seward clearly believes that the King should not allow the circumstances to prevent him from offering private support. Hardman, however, has explained why the Palace may prefer to keep its distance from anything that could later be connected to the investigation.

The two views do not necessarily rule each other out. Charles could contact Harry as a father without making any comment about the allegations, although the Palace may still be concerned about how such a conversation would be portrayed if it became public.

For now, there is no confirmed account of a private conversation between the King and the Sussexes. What remains clear is that Charles is facing a delicate situation: he has a family matter unfolding around his son and daughter-in-law, but he also has a monarchy to protect from any suggestion of involvement in a legal process.

Whether he chooses to make that call may be a personal decision. How the Palace handles the consequences, however, is another matter entirely.