Prince Harry would give his stepmother Queen Consort Camilla “long, cold glances” that she found “unnerving”, a new book has claimed.
The pair are said to have had a rocky relationship but at the time of Camilla’s wedding to Harry’s father King Charles in 2005, he described how he and brother Prince William “love her to bits”. However, since then, there have been reports that Harry “can’t stand” Camilla and she could come in for criticism in his upcoming memoir, which is said to be due out later this year. And now a new book that is biography of the new Queen Consort claims that being Harry’s stepmother “wasn’t easy”.
The book by Angela Levin, Camilla: From Outcast to Queen Consort, which has been serialised in The Telegraph, says: “It is always difficult to take on the role of stepmother and William and Harry presented the then-Duchess of Cornwall with an almost impossible challenge.
“One insider felt that being Prince Harry ’s stepmother in particular wasn’t easy. ‘The Duchess always felt quite wary of Harry and used to see him out of the corner of her eye looking at her in a long and cold way. She found it rather unnerving. Otherwise, they got on quite well.’
The insider adds: “She never interfered directly or tried to be a surrogate mother. Instead, she was a supportive figure in the background.”
Since Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle quit as working royals and set up a new life in California, they have barely seen King Charles or Camilla.
However, following the death of the Queen two weeks ago, they were reunited for services for the late monarch, including her state funeral on Monday.
Earlier this year, they attended the Platinum Jubilee celebrations and they also met up at Windsor Castle while Harry and Meghan were on their way Netherlands for the Invictus Games.
Charles insisted on meeting Harry and Meghan before their audience with the ailing Queen, according to new royal book The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth’s Legacy and the Future of the Crown by Katie Nicholl.
It is claimed the Sussexes were late for the awkward chat and Charles had just 15 minutes with the jet-setting pair before they had to leave for the Royal Maundy Service at Windsor Castle.
“Harry went in with hugs and the best of intentions and said he wanted to clear the air,” a family friend said.
“He actually suggested that they use a mediator to try and sort things out, which had Charles somewhat bemused and Camilla spluttering into her tea.
“She told Harry it was ridiculous and that they were a family and would sort it out between themselves.”