Sussex 'Golden Visa': King Charles 'Not Wasting Time' as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Try to Bridge Royal Rift From Portugal
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's new Portugal pad is apparently not on King Charles III's mind as His Majesty tours Australia with Queen Camilla.
Replying to news of the new Sussex home and the King's possible response, royal historian Hugo Vickers said, "We don't know to what extent there is any sort of relationship between Harry and the King at the moment. I mean, the King's got a lot of things to get on with. Apart from getting well, he's got his big tour to Australia."
"He's got all the things that Kings have to do, and I suspect the message we're getting is that Harry just needs to sort himself out," Vickers added. "I mean, the King's not going to waste much time concerning himself with his issues. But he's left the door wide open for him should Harry ever wish to return."
The Portuguese home purchase is rumored to be a direct response on Harry's part to give the U.K. "the middle finger" as it will likely provide the Sussex duo a "golden visa" within the European Union.
"The number of people inside the royal family who are willing to proclaim their friendship for Harry and Meghan has dwindled to practically nothing," royal biographer Christopher Andersen dished.
"No one wants to run afoul of the king and Prince William – it's that simple," Andersen added. "Somehow Prince Harry’s cousin Princess Eugenie, who has a home in Portugal, has been able to straddle the fence – to remain in the king's good graces but also not turn her back on the Sussexes. Obviously, Harry and Meghan are very grateful for the loyalty Eugenie has shown."
Although the move is seen as a possible "in," for the Montecito pair since the royals "want nothing to do with them," the Duke and Duchess likely bought the home to be near Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank.
"Purchasing a villa in Portugal has more to do with being close to a royal family member who is still genuinely fond of them than it does with being geographically closer to Great Britain," Andersen continued. "Maybe in the future Eugenie, who also remains close to William and his wife, Kate Middleton, could also play the role of go-between. But any scenario like that seems an awfully long way off."
He concluded, "At the moment, King Charles and, in particular, Prince William show no signs of being interested in any sort of rapprochement."
The King and Queen are expected to end their tour of Australia and visit to Samoa on Monday, October 28.
GBN reported on Vickers' remarks.