King Charles III was allegedly fuming when son Prince Harry and daughter-in-law Meghan Markle’s bombshell Netflix docuseries dominated headlines in December 2022.
“[The show] took the wind out of everyone’s sails,” a source told journalist Omid Scobie for his latest book, “Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy’s Fight for Survival.”
In an advance copy obtained by Pvnew, the insider added that Charles was “doing his damnedest best” to get positive media attention after ascending the throne following Queen Elizabeth II’s death in September 2022.
However, according to the source, “no one [was] watching” thanks to the Sussexes’ highly publicized Netflix release, “Harry & Meghan.”
In his frustration, Charles “went from not wanting anyone to talk about his son to openly criticizing ‘that fool,'” another royal insider alleged.
“The King was genuinely sad about the entire situation,” the source told Scobie three months after the series premiered.
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“He was angry but didn’t want people to speak ill of his son in front of him, either. It was a brief moment where he paused and realized how bad things had become.”
However, Scobie noted that Charles’ sympathy for Harry and Markle “soon disappeared” when their media attention overshadowed his own.
Scobie — whose forthcoming book highlights a handful of secrets from the lives of the UK (and Montecito) royals — also wrote that the docuseries “eclipsed” Charles “at every turn.”
It has been heavily reported that Charles and his youngest son, 39, haven’t been on the best of terms since Harry and Markle, 42, resigned from their royal duties in 2020.
Of course, the couple’s Netflix deal followed by the Duke of Sussex’s scathing memoir, “Spare,” didn’t help mend any wounds between the father-son duo.
In spite of the tell-all interviews, both Charles and Harry are reportedly trying to repair their relationship.
According to the Telegraph, Harry and Markle — who share son Archie, 4, and daughter Lilibet, 2 — hopped on a call with Charles earlier this month to wish him a happy 75th birthday.
They even sent a video of their children singing “Happy Birthday,” per the outlet.
Prior to the release of Scobie’s book, an insider told Pvnew earlier this month that Harry “wants to have a better relationship with Charles.”
“He is his father after all,” the source said.
“Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy’s Fight for Survival” hits shelves on Nov. 28.
