Nannies, governesses and boarding schools collided with stiff upper-lips and duty to make Charles’ childhood a cold place. He and Princess Anne were often left behind for months at a time — sometimes six months at a time — when their parents were on royal tours, and reunions were marked by an affectionate pat on the head rather than a warm hug.
Charles wanted things to be different, Harry wrote: “To be fair, he tried. Evenings, I’d shout downstairs: ‘Going to bed, Pa!’ He’d always shout back cheerfully: ‘I’ll be there shortly, darling boy!’ True to his word, minutes later he’d be sitting on the edge of my bed.”
But (thankfully) night-night isn’t enough for his sons or a generation of Millennial Dads. Harry, of course, has spoken openly about how he doesn’t want to repeat Charles’ mistakes.
“It leaves me in the position how as a father, I have two kids of my own, making sure that I smother them with love and affection,” he said while promoting his book in 2023.
“As a father I feel a huge responsibility to ensure that I don’t pass on any traumas or negative experiences I’ve had.”
But just as Prince William has never been able to be as open as his little brother about the impact of the loss of their mother, he also ‘can’t’. Translation: because he is English, royal, going to be King, it’s just not done, etc etc.
William can’t tell the world so outwardly that he wants to be a better dad. So he walks the walk, by putting family above duty, and risking Charles’ wrath.
And now, if the reporting’s to be believed, all these Daddy Issues have resulted in Charles’ decision to reunite with the man who William sees as the treacherous turncoat who sold all their secrets for money.