Crossing the Line: How Harry’s Words About Camilla Led to Royal Consequences

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were evicted from Frogmore Cottage last year, a residence that had been gifted to them by the late Queen Elizabeth II. The eviction was reportedly prompted by a particularly offensive comment directed at Queen Consort Camilla in Harry’s memoir, “Spare.” King Charles decided to remove his son and daughter-in-law from the property, feeling that Harry had crossed a line with his remarks about Camilla.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were reportedly stunned by the King’s request for them to vacate their UK home. Sources indicated that King Charles was outraged by numerous accusations made by Harry in his memoir, particularly those targeting Camilla. Harry’s book contains more than 60 mentions of Camilla, with the Duke expressing a clear dislike for her, whom he refers to as “the Other Woman.”

In his memoir, Harry describes the period after his mother, Princess Diana, died and how his father began to move on. He recounts sensing the presence of ‘the Other Woman,’ later revealed to be Camilla. Harry and his brother, Prince William, had long harbored suspicions about her, which caused them confusion and torment.

Harry admits to fearing that Camilla would become his “wicked stepmother” and claims she would sacrifice others to secure her place on the throne, even converting his bedroom into her dressing room.

Despite Harry and William’s pleas for their father not to marry Camilla, they ultimately accepted her into the family, with Harry confessing that he wanted her to be happy to make her less “dangerous.” In a TV interview, Harry described Camilla as “the villain” and “the third person” in his parents’ marriage, stating she needed to rehabilitate her image.

Royal sources revealed that King Charles took swift action after receiving a dossier from aides containing details from Harry’s explosive memoir. An insider explained that Harry knew Camilla was a sensitive topic for his father and crossed the line with his comments.

The King viewed Harry’s actions as the ultimate act of disrespect. One royal expert, Dr. Tessa Dunlop, believes Charles’ decision goes against the wishes of the late Queen Elizabeth II, who had tried to keep Harry on board.

Dr. Dunlop noted that the public’s response to the news was largely gleeful, but she criticized the King’s actions as detrimental to the monarchy’s image. She argued that a confident monarchy would have weathered the storm of Harry’s accusations without such a drastic response.

Dr. Dunlop pointed out that by evicting the Sussexes from Frogmore Cottage, King Charles was acting contrary to his mother’s conciliatory approach. Moreover, she highlighted the problematic optics of conflating the issues of the Sussexes with those of Prince Andrew.

Charles has also asked Andrew to relinquish his larger home, the Royal Lodge, and move into Frogmore Cottage, which Dr. Dunlop views as a significant mistake. She believes this move diminishes the monarchy’s standing, especially just weeks before the coronation, Britain’s biggest state ceremony of 2023.

Dr. Dunlop acknowledged that while British public opinion might currently favor the King’s actions, the international perspective is likely to be less forgiving. The late Queen Elizabeth II had made efforts to keep Harry and Meghan involved in the royal family, with Frogmore Cottage being part of that strategy. Her leniency extended to Prince Andrew as well.

However, King Charles, in his bid to assert his authority, has undone these efforts. By linking Harry’s and Andrew’s issues through the lens of Frogmore Cottage, the King appears to prioritize his disgraced brother over his conflicted son and daughter-in-law. This perception could harm the monarchy’s image, especially internationally, as the coronation approaches.

Invitations for the coronation are expected to go out soon, and it is now likely that Prince Andrew will be present, while the Sussexes may not attend. Dr. Dunlop’s analysis suggests that King Charles’ handling of the situation may have broader implications for the monarchy’s reputation and unity within the royal family.

The eviction of Harry and Meghan from Frogmore Cottage marks a significant moment in the ongoing tensions between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family, highlighting the deep divisions and challenges facing the monarchy in the modern era.