Declined invitations and heated comments in the press.
According to one pal of Prince Charles, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's recent actions have
led to some seriously hurt feelings.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's visit to the UK is in full effect, and, unsurprisingly,
the celebrity couple's return to their former home has been rife with controversy.
"Every word that's said is analyzed and people are looking to take offense, which does seem
to be the case."
Even before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex landed, a former Buckingham Palace staffer
complained to the Daily Beast that they had some nerve showing their faces.
Warning that the couple was risking incurring "the wrath of the queen," the anonymous source
said,
"The chutzpah of those two is unreal.
[...] Their proposal for being hybrid working royals was comprehensively rejected, but it
looks like they are just going ahead and doing it anyway."
Harry and Meghan are partaking in several activities, such as attending the WellChild
awards, that they would've also attended as working royals.
That's raised questions about why they're allowed to do so.
Meghan and Harry have no plans to see his family during their brief sojourn across the
pond, which will also include a stop in Germany.
The Sun confirmed they're being given a wide berth until the prince's upcoming bombshell
memoir is released.
Behind the scenes, though, Prince Charles is reportedly becoming increasingly baffled
by his younger son's actions.
An unnamed friend revealed to The Sunday Times that the Prince of Wales is "bewildered" by
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's recent behavior and is hurt by their incessant, "painful"
jabs directed toward him and the rest of the royals.
The source said,
"For two years, there has been a steady stream of really challenging things said about a
man who cannot [publicly] defend himself by a couple he obviously loves and misses."
In a revelatory interview with The Cut, Meghan opened up about how tough it was being involved
in a public battle with her own father, Thomas Markle, who continues to court controversy.
While suing The Mail on Sunday for publishing a private letter she'd written to him, the
Duchess of Sussex was painted in an overwhelmingly negative light.
She seemingly acknowledged that royal family relationships were also hurt.
Meghan shared,
"Harry said to me, 'I lost my dad in this process.'
It doesn't have to be the same for them as it was for me, but that's his decision."
Royal expert Omid Scobie contended in a tweet that Harry was referring to Meghan's dad rather
than his own, and a rep for the Duchess later confirmed this to Entertainment Tonight.
Regardless, Charles has definitely been described as "wounded" by recent events.
On September 4, 2022, a sullen-looking Prince Charles was photographed attending church
alone during his summer visit to the queen's estate in Balmoral, Scotland.
While it was thought Harry and Meghan were asked to join their family at Balmoral, reports
emerged earlier this year that the couple didn't actually receive an invitation.
Now a source claims that they were invited but declined.
Russell Myers, royal editor at the Daily Mirror, said,
"Prince Charles did indeed invite them to stay with him up at Balmoral, the queen's
estate, this week, but they have so far refused."
According to the Mirror, insiders noted that the Prince of Wales confirmed that the couple
is "always welcome" to stay with him, even after Meghan's comments to The Cut.
Charles' friend said,
"He hasn't wavered, despite the attacks, which seem to be coming with increased vigor.
[...] He thought it might be a good opportunity for everyone to take stock and relax, but
the invitation was declined."
Others' feelings toward Harry and Meghan seem less welcoming, though.
Royal expert Angela Levin told The Sun that certain family members no longer trust Meghan
and Harry, believing that whatever they potentially discuss with the couple could later show up
in an interview or a documentary.