King Charles was left "crushed" after being told that Prince Harry's relationship with Meghan Markle would be made public just 20 minutes before it was widely announced, two royal authors have said.
The monarch, who was then Prince of Wales, was preparing to meet the King of Bahrain during a delicate tour in the Persian Gulf sovereign state in November 2016.
According to royal authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, who are thought to be close with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, his team had spent months organising the tour, hoping it would be "covered significantly" by the media.
But Charles was reportedly "crushed" when Harry and Meghan confirmed their relationship publicly while also launching an attack on the media, as he thought the announcement would dominate the news cycle, overshadowing his tour.
The authors claimed Harry gave his dad just 20 minutes' notice before releasing a statement that confirmed his relationship with Meghan.
Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family: "It was a critical moment that had been in the works for months.
"A statement from Kensington Palace condemning the Press and, in the same breath, confirming Harry’s new girlfriend would all but eliminate coverage of Prince Charles's tour of the Gulf."
Royal authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand claim: "The team at Clarence House, which had spent months putting together Prince Charles' tour in the hopes that it would be covered significantly, was crushed."
The book also said Harry was lashing out at anyone who "questioned his new relationship", with the authors writing that the Duke of Sussex would wonder if people were judging them because of race or snobbery.
Harry had allegedly cut ties with a friend for "gossiping about Meghan" and was "poised for an outright war" with the media.
However, the book insisted Charles "understood that the situation with Meghan had reached a tipping point" despite being "disappointed" by the timing of his son's statement.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their engagement in November 2017 and got married on May 19, 2018.
They eventually stepped down as senior royals in January 2020 and moved to the US where they now live with their two children, Archie and Lilibet.
On Saturday, Harry is travelling to the UK for his father's Coronation while Meghan stays at home with the kids to celebrate Archie's fourth birthday.
The King's younger son is expected to leave shortly after the ceremony at Westminster Abbey so that he can return home in time to join celebrations for Archie too.
Who is your favourite member of the Royal Family? Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.
Last month, a royal source told The Mirror: "After much back and forth, Harry said that he would be returning for the King's Coronation but it will only be a fleeting visit.
"Organisers have been told Harry won't be attending the concert with the rest of the Royal Family, which is a great shame as it will be such a spectacular event."
