Happy Birthday or Happily Betrayed? Prince Harry's Phone Call to King Charles Shattered Royal Truce

When it came to wishing Prince Harry a happy 40th birthday via social media in September, King Charles III was "happy" to send the message. However, His Majesty is reportedly still harboring trust issues with his youngest son thanks to his Sussex 75th birthday phone call last November, of which details were "leaked" to the media.

"One thing I did find out is how really disappointed the king was back in November when Harry did call him to wish him not just a happy 75th birthday, but also his children did a little video singing happy birthday to the grandpa they barely even see," royal expert Rebecca English shared.

But despite "keeping his guard up this entire year," as one palace insider described it, "Charles is angry, and he is hurt, but he is still his son at the end of the day, which is why it's always been said as much as he is keeping distance at the moment, he will never entirely shut that door to him," English added.

"We know that the King was actually quite disappointed that the private phone call he had with Harry on the King’s 75th birthday was yet again leaked to the press," royal expert Rafe Heydel-Mankoo told an outlet last year when news of the monarch's disappointment made its ways from behind palace walls.

The Montecito royal rebels called Charles III to wish him a happy birthday — his second as the reigning monarch of Britain and the Commonwealth. The three were said to have had a cordial and lengthy chat, which included the pair showing the King a specially-made video of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet Diana serenading him with a rendition of "Happy Birthday."

Flash-forward 10 months later, and English added an update to His Majesty's feelings.

"And within hours of that happening, that was leaked from the Sussex side to favored media and that really crossed the line in the sand for the royal family, because so very little of their lives is genuinely private," she said. "So much is lived in public or even surrounded by staff watching everything they do. So, private conversations, particularly private phone calls, are really considered just that."

Soon after the call, reports were circulating in the media describing all these events, which is a breach of royal protocol and security since phone calls with the British head of state are meant to be kept confidential.

It is believed to be the first time the monarch spoke with his former actress daughter-in-law, Meghan Markle, since around the time of Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral in September 2022. Although customs were breached, the chat was reportedly well-received by all recipients — but some analysts believe it did nothing to heal the feud between the Sussex family and the royals.

The King turns 76 on Thursday, November 14.

Irish Star reported on English's remarks.