Harry's scathing six-word remark on one thing Charles 'was never meant for' (2024)

Prince Harry revealed that his father struggled to be a single parent after Princess Diana's death. (Image: Getty)

Prince Harry made scathing claims about King Charles's parenting with a searing six-word remark in his controversial memoir Spare.

Relations between the Duke and the Royal Family have been tense for years, ever since he left the Firm with Meghan Markle in 2020, but his bombshell memoir Spare, in which Harry made several claims against his family, sent tensions to a breaking point.

Prince Harry reflected on his upbringing in the book and his relationship with his father.

Following the death of Princess Diana, King Charles was left as a single parent, with Prince Harry's issuing a scathing remark on the situation: "Pa was never made for that."

The Duke, however, claimed that "he tried", but had ultimately "always given an air of being not quite ready for parenthood the responsibilities, the patience, the time." He claimed that even King Charles "would've admitted as much".

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Prince Harry said his father struggled to talk about his feelings. (Image: Getty)

Prince Harry claimed that his father often struggled to talk about his feelings, choosing instead to write letters rather than speak face-to-face.

He wrote: "He had trouble communicating, trouble listening, trouble being intimate face-to-face. On occasion, after a long multi-course dinner, I'd walk upstairs and find a letter on my pillow.

"The letter would say how proud he was of me for something I'd done or accomplished. I'd smile, place it under my pillow, but also wonder why he hadn't said this moments ago, while seated directly across from me."

He also discussed fond memories of King Charles, who would always take the time to sit with him before bed and make sure to leave the door open as he was scared of the dark.

Prince Harry added: "I'd shout downstairs: Going to bed, Pa! He'd always shout back cheerfully: I'll be there shortly, darling boy! True to his word, minutes later he'd be sitting on the edge of my bed.

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"He never forgot that I didn't like the dark, so he'd gently tickle my face until I fell asleep. I have the fondest memories of his hands on my cheeks, my forehead, then waking to find him gone, magically, the door always considerately left open a crack."

Prince Harry remains distant from his father, living in California with Meghan, and the two were not able to reunite during his visit to the UK for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games.

The Duke did not meet with any of his family members during the fleeting visit, before jetting off to Nigeria with Meghan for more Invictus Games celebrations.

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