Prince Charles was "unprepared" by the way Meghan Markle "took over Prince Harry" and turned him "against everything he knew", a royal expert has said.
The father and son bond has been extremely rocky of late with Harry speaking out about how his dad "cut him off financially". Last week Meghan spoke out and said that her husband felt his bond with his father was over following their decision to quit public duties. But despite this - and other criticisms - it has emerged that Charles has extended an open invitation to the couple saying they are “always welcome” to go and stay with him along with their children.
According to royal expert and author Ingrid Seward, Charles knew Harry would need a wife who was a strong woman - especially given the tragic death of Harry's mother Princess Diana.
But she told the Mirror, that the Prince of Wales has been "unprepared" for Meghan.
She explained: "Harry and Charles had much in common. They both loved nature and animals and together with William played polo as a family unit.
"Harry was sensitive and Charles knew he would need a strong woman. He liked Meghan when she came along.
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"But Charles was unprepared for her to take over Harry the way she did and turn him against everything he knew and loved including his own family."
Meanwhile, according to Ingrid, Harry's current feelings may be traced back to his later mother's shock death - and how his father dealt with it in the aftermath.
And now she believes the best course of action for Charles is to hope his son will eventually come around.
She said: "Prince Charles has always liked to think he was close to his sons. When Diana was tragically killed, he knew he would have to step up to the mark and abandon any other plans he had. Workaholic that he was – there was no question of not doing so and Charles took over.
"No newspapers no television and sadly very little discussion about their late mother. Charles thought that was the right thing to do. It wasn’t until much later that Harry revealed he had hidden his private emotions so deeply; it took years for the real grief to come out.
"He blamed his father. He felt that Charles should have explained to both he and William exactly how and why the accident had occurred. Years passed and Harry complained he still didn’t understand if his mother had been the victim of an assassination attempt or if it was just a tragic accident.
"He was angry. Angry with his brother. Angry with his father and angry with his stepmother, Camilla whom he decided he disliked having got along with her perfectly well before.
"Charles has to be emotionally strong. It hurts being rejected and bad-mouthed by a son he seldom sees. He hopes Harry will eventually come around as he has in the past. He is patient. He will wait."
Ingrid Seward is editor in chief of Majesty magazine and author of William and Harry and Prince Philip Revealed.
