Prince Harry may have spoken fondly about his father King Charles in the past, however the duke has also said some brutal things about the monarch, especially when it comes to his ability to display affection.
While King Charles can often be seen hugging family members in enthusiastic greetings, with some members of the public also receiving hugs from the 76-year-old monarch, Prince Harry claims his father was not like that with him.
In his bombshell memoir Spare, which was first published in January 2023, the Duke of Sus𝑠e𝑥 claimed that older generations of the Royal Family were not keen on physical contact.
He then went on to brutally describe his father in six words: “No hugs, no kisses, no pats.” He continued: “Now and then, maybe a light touching of cheeks – on special occasions.”
The prince, who is the youngest son of King Charles, also claimed that the King did not hug him after telling the then-young Harry that his mother Princess Diana had died in a car crash in 1997, and instead just placed a hand on his knee.
He wrote: “What I do remember with stunning clarity is that I did not cry. Not a tear. My father did not hug me.”
Despite this blunt recollection of his father’s affection, the prince did praise the King in the book for some of his parental traits.
He 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. He never forgot that I didn’t like the dark, so he’d gently tickle my face until I fell asleep.
“I have the fondest memories of his hands on my cheeks, my forehead, then waking to find him gone, magically, the door always considerately left open a crack.”
Despite the bombshells revealed by Prince Harry since he quit the Royal Family in 2020, the King has still tried to maintain a relationship with his youngest son.
The pair last saw each other in February just after the monarch’s cancer diagnosis.
It is believed they speak on the phone, with the King having reportedly called the prince in September to wish him a happy 40th birthday.
Prince Harry is likely to call his father today as he celebrates his 76th birthday milestone.