Prince Charles Apparently Has One Major Regret About Baby Archie

While Prince Charles is heir to the British throne, he’s just like many parents in one respect. Yes, even a future king has to face the same dilemma all parents go through: now that his sons are grown, he can’t control what they do! Perhaps that’s why he stopped calling Prince Harry... And when Harry made a huge decision, it apparently left Charles with a big regret about his grandchild Archie. People are wondering what he’s said behind closed doors, and some royal experts believe they have the answers.

The first born

Archie, in case you needed reminding, is the first child of Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle. And the couple have courted controversy in a way British royals rarely do – not least through telling all to Oprah. Practically every move that they make is scrutinized, too, in countless newspapers, magazines and websites.

Different rules

But in some ways, Harry has been able to behave in a manner that his brother, Prince William, never could. That’s down to the fact that William will almost certainly become king one day. Yes, as Charles’ eldest son, William will inherit the throne after his father. Naturally, Charles himself will become king after his mother, the current Queen Elizabeth II.

More Freedom

As Charles’ youngest son, though, Harry finds himself sixth in line to the throne. Harry’s dad, brother and brother’s children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – are all ahead of him in the pecking order. So, in all likelihood, Harry will never be king. That’s given him more freedom – to move away from the U.K. with Meghan, to make business deals and, yes, to spill the beans on TV. Archie probably won’t become king, either, although it’s not this that Charles allegedly regrets.

Penchant for mischief

But regardless of whether he’ll ever rule, Harry has had his fans over the years. That was certainly true before he met Meghan, anyway! His penchant for mischief made him one of the most popular members of the British royal family. And in his younger days, the prince was well-known for his misadventures – behavior that was not typically associated with the stuffy Windsors.

Like mother like son

Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, was arguably as much of a royal rule-breaker as her son would come to be. This may explain, too, why she seemed to fall out of favor with her in-laws after she and Charles had divorced. Famously, though, Diana was beloved across the world. Her death in 1997 prompted a practically unprecedented outpouring of grief internationally.

Wild antics

Harry, though? His behavior has been even more controversial. At 16 he reportedly used marijuana, and in 2005 he was pictured at a costume party wearing a Nazi uniform. He has also been photographed naked at a party in Las Vegas and has scuffled with a photographer on more than one occasion. So, does Charles regret having to tell his grandson about Harry’s checkered past? Well, not quite – as far as we know, anyway.

Big reality check

Fortunately, Harry seemed to grow up after attending the U.K.’s prestigious Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. There, he eventually became an army lieutenant. The prince went on to serve in the armed forces for ten years and saw active service twice in Afghanistan.

Giving back

Then, after leaving the army, Harry dedicated his time to charitable causes. His patronages are varied, too, with the prince supporting organizations that focus on animal conservation in Africa, children’s education programs, mental health organizations. That’s as well as services that support ex-servicemen and women and sporting programs. Perhaps most famously, Harry became the founder of the Invictus Games – a sporting event for active or retired servicemen and women who have been injured during duty.

A leader in identifying charitable need

Actually, Harry’s charitable work mirrors his father. Charles has long been passionate about philanthropy and has even started a few organizations of his own. His website explains this, saying, “For over 40 years, the Prince of Wales has been a leader in identifying charitable need and setting up and driving forward charities to meet it.”

A complex relationship

Some media outlets have claimed, though, that Charles and Harry have a complex relationship. From watching the Oprah interview, that doesn’t seem too big a stretch... Reportedly, that’s also the case when it comes to Harry and his stepmother Camilla. But while Charles and Camilla are not seen as particularly popular members of the royal family, Harry has arguably been one of the British public’s favorites for a while now.

Public popularity

In 2019 Harry was even voted the second most popular member of his family – behind the Queen – in a survey conducted by market research firm YouGov. But things may have begun to change after the Duke of Sussex’s marriage to Meghan. As fans know, the two first met on a blind date back in 2016.

Falling for Meghan

Apparently, Harry and Meghan quickly became smitten with each other. That led the prince to ask his love interest on a vacation to Botswana. Not a bad place for a date! And the relationship blossomed from there, although it wasn’t until the Invictus Games of 2017 – more than a year later – that the couple were finally photographed together holding hands.

Popping the question

Still, the media scrutiny surrounding Harry and Meghan didn’t stop them from taking things to the next level. Yes, in November 2017 the prince proposed to the actress, presenting her with a ring made from diamonds that had once belonged to Diana.

The event of the year

And when Harry and Meghan finally tied the knot in May 2018, it became one of the biggest events of the year. An estimated 1.9 billion people around the world tuned in to watch the ceremony on television. Further good news came five months later, when the newlyweds revealed that they were expecting their first child.

Welcoming Archie

Then on May 6, 2019, Meghan gave birth to a baby boy named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. He became Queen Elizabeth II’s eighth grandchild and immediately entered the line of succession in seventh position. And it appeared that Harry was in love with his new son, describing Archie as “absolutely to die for.” Following Archie’s arrival, however, the prince and his wife made a series of decisions that left Charles facing that major regret.

Single dad

What of Harry’s own father? Well, with all the drama surrounding the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Charles has pretty much been lost in the shuffle. The Prince of Wales has long been the only parent of both William and Harry after Diana died – although they do have a stepmother in Camilla.

Charles' big regret

Charles hasn’t grumbled, either, about Harry and Meghan’s decision to step aside from royal duties. Well, not publicly, anyway. But the Prince of Wales has reportedly admitted that he has a big regret when it comes to his son and daughter-in-law’s relocation to the States. And, yes, it’s all to do with Archie.

Missing his family

You see, when Harry and Meghan announced their intention to start a new life, Archie was less than a year old. And, naturally, when a baby is so small, a grandfather often wishes to be close by to see the child or lend a hand to their parents. Now that Harry and his wife and son are overseas, though, Charles is said to “personally regret the fact [that] he won’t see his son and family.”

An attempt to support

That’s according to Nigel Cawthorne, who is the author of Prince Andrew, Epstein and the Palace. And he believes that Charles had accepted what Harry and Meghan were trying to do. “I think [the Prince of Wales] genuinely made an attempt to support what Harry and Meghan were looking for as long as it wouldn’t upset other HRHs,” Cawthorne told The Sun in July 2020.

No other choice

Charles also acknowledged that any efforts to influence his son would be in vain. Or so Cawthorne says, anyway... “In truth, however, there wasn’t a lot he could do apart from offering moral support,” the writer explained. Ultimately, then, Charles would’ve had to accept the decision.

Stepping back

Back in January 2020, Harry and Meghan had famously revealed that they would eventually be moving from the U.K. That month, the couple explained through a press release, “We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honor our duty to the Queen, the Commonwealth and our patronages.”

Major shock waves

As royal announcements go, this one was up there with the most shocking. Even worse, it seems that neither Charles nor William had been consulted about any of it. And with that, the couple packed up and headed off to Los Angeles weeks later, leaving the British media and public stunned.

Time to adjust

The official response from Buckingham Palace was telling. “Discussions with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage. We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through,” the statement from the Queen’s residence read.

Shift in The Firm

And, apparently, Harry and Meghan’s move has left Charles in a tricky position. According to Cawthorne, the heir to the throne intended to “slim down” the British royal family – referred to colloquially as “The Firm.” And, originally, his youngest son and daughter-in-law would have been key figures in the new setup.

Promising growth

While speaking to the Daily Express in 2020, Cawthorne said, “[Charles] was delighted with Meghan and, undoubtedly, would have continued to draw the Sussexes in more. [He] would have tried to expand their role within the Firm as much as could be expected. Of course, when [Harry and Meghan] decided to emigrate, all that had to come to an end.”

Royal treatment

Why did Harry and Meghan make their controversial move? Well, some have speculated that it’s partly down to their treatment at the hands of the media. And the prince has been critical of the coverage of his wife almost from the start. Upon confirming his relationship in 2016, he even went so far as to describe the behavior of some elements of the press as “a wave of abuse and harassment.”

Broadcasting their plans

Yet Harry and Meghan haven’t always been camera-shy, as they sat down for an interview with the BBC soon after announcing their engagement. There, the two revealed details of their courtship, the proposal and their plans for the future. It was announced, for instance, that Meghan would give up acting and instead dedicate her time to charitable causes.

Demanding more privacy

Naturally, the media continued to track Harry and Meghan after that, although the pair did make moves towards retaining some semblance of privacy. Unlike William and his wife, Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex wouldn’t be posing for photos outside the hospital with their new baby when he finally arrived.

Trauma with the media

Yet while Archie’s birth and subsequent christening were both clandestine affairs, this didn’t stop the royals from apparently experiencing further unwanted intrusion from the press. During the 2019 British TV documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, the prince even drew parallels between his experience with the media and what his late mother, Diana, had encountered during her life.

Putting on a brave face

Harry said of his mom, “Everything that she went through, and what happened to her, is incredibly important every single day. And that is not me being paranoid.” He added, “Part of this job is putting on a brave face, but for me and my wife, there is a lot of stuff that hurts – especially when the majority of it is untrue.”

Taking legal action

Separately, Meghan also took legal action against the Daily Mail over the printing of a personal letter. And Harry only added further fuel to the fire when he claimed, in court documents, that his phone had been hacked by several newspapers.

Escaping the circus

Then, during the holiday period in 2019, the couple jetted off with Archie to Canada to enjoy an extended family break. While there, they may have begun hatching plans for the future. In any case, Harry and Meghan were soon to drop a bombshell that would take everyone aback – even, reportedly, the prince’s own family.

Unexpected news

Yes, Charles was allegedly blindsided by the news that his son would be eventually leaving the country – along with Meghan and Archie, of course. But that didn’t stop the Prince of Wales from reportedly maintaining a strong relationship with Harry. “Harry is and always has been incredibly close to his father. And nothing that has happened in the last few months has changed that,” a source close to the pair told The Sun.

Disappointed but supportive

The insider added, “Charles, in particular, felt that the work and causes Harry and Meghan were embarking on could be really served by remaining within the royal household. But like any loving father, now [that] Harry has made his decision, Charles is keen to support him.”

Discussing the future

And during a recent trip to the U.K., Harry supposedly spent plenty of time with Charles. “Since Harry came back, he has seen his father, and they have discussed what Harry wants to do in the future. Harry hugely respects his father’s opinion and has welcomed the advice,” the Sun’s source further explained.

Coping with the distance

As a grandfather, it’s perfectly understandable that Charles will miss seeing Archie grow up for the most part. And while there may be plenty of visits to his grandson when time allows, the Prince of Wales will have to deal with the fact that he can’t just travel a few miles to get some family time anymore.

A baby girl

Harry and Meghan also welcomed a baby girl in summer 2021. And even though the couple have relinquished many of their royal duties, their every move will likely continue to be scrutinized – regardless of whether their frosty relationship with the press improves.

At least money is no obstacle

What this means for Charles, Harry and Archie is anyone’s guess. Yet only the hardest of hearts would wish to see a wedge driven between a grandfather, son and grandson. At least with the great wealth and prestige at the royal family’s disposal, jumping on a plane shouldn’t be too hard to achieve.

Still public figures

So, whatever lies in store for Meghan and Harry, they’ll undoubtedly remain in the public eye. And as the public will undoubtedly be eager to look at photos of Archie as he grows up, it’ll probably mean that Charles is only ever a phone click away from seeing his grandson.