King Charles' striking hidden message to Prince Harry in public speech after years long royal rift
The King took part in an important historic ceremony in October 2023 - and according to one royal expert, he used the occasion to send a pointed message to his youngest son
by Gemma Strong · The MirrorKing Charles used an important speech to send a message to his youngest son Prince Harry in the midst of his feud with the royal family, it has been claimed.
In October 2023, the King addressed assembled guests during a dinner at Mansion House as he took part in a ceremony for a new Sovereign which dates back to one of his predecessors, King William III, in 1689.
He was presented with The Pearl Sword – a gift to the City of London from Elizabeth I – and immediately returned it to symbolise the authority of the Lord Mayor in London's Square Mile when the monarch is not present. Charles' mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II previously carried out the Pearl Sword Ceremony, as new Sovereign, in 1953.
As part of the speech, the King stated: "But have we succeeded in equal measure in schooling ourselves, and our communities, in the importance of our responsibilities towards one another? Do we pause, instinctively and unerringly, before speaking or acting to ensure we are affording equal weight to both sides of the balance? Our society would be a kinder and gentler place for it."
According to royal expert Angela Levin, his words were largely directed at his youngest son. She told GB News, "I think it's quite interesting because it's a message to Harry - 'Don't come in and start shouting at me and demanding that years later we still apologise to Meghan...
"Be calm, don't shout, don't nag, don't demand, but let's keep things equal." She added: "I don't think Harry will take the slightest bit of notice about it, unfortunately."
Angela also spoke about the Sussexes' holiday to Canouan Island in the Grenadines, which took place in the same month as Charles's speech: "If you're still shouting at your father to give you money or your late grandmother to give you money and then you go on and spend it all like that and you make no sign that you're being cautious. Or, you're going on private planes and telling people they can't but you can."
Harry has been at loggerheads with his family ever since his quit royal life and went on to make a number of shocking claims against his loved ones.
In September 2024, reports of a reconciliation resurfaced when King Charles and Prince William and Princess Kate publicly acknowledged Harry's 40th birthday. But, while some hoped that it was an indicator of the pair rebuilding their relationship, others believe a more likely reason was that it's as a result of a royal order.
According to InStyle , Richard Palmer, a royal correspondent and commentator, stated that in 2022, the former Queen decreed that non-working royals' birthdays would be celebrated (in this case marked on social media) if they end in a zero.
Other royal fans noted that the message was not signed off as 'W&C", indicating that it had not been personally written by the couple. A palace insider told The Daily Beast: "It was just a company thing. Happy birthday blah blah blah."