King Charles ‘Frustrated and Upset’ by Prince Harry’s Response to Security Appeal Defeat, Sources Say
May 3, 2025 – King Charles III is reportedly “frustrated and upset” by Prince Harry’s public reaction to losing his legal appeal for reinstated publicly funded security in the United Kingdom, with sources close to the monarch citing the Duke of Sussex’s perceived failure to respect the King’s constitutional limitations. The tension, which has further strained the already fragile relationship between father and son, stems from Harry’s high-profile criticism of the monarch’s role—or lack thereof—in his multimillion-pound legal battle against the Home Office, which concluded with a decisive ruling against him on May 2, 2025.
According to a source speaking to The Sun, King Charles was particularly hurt by Harry’s remarks in a recent BBC interview, where the Duke claimed that his father “won’t speak to me” about the security dispute and described the court’s decision as a “good old-fashioned establishment stitch-up.” The insider revealed that the King views Harry’s comments as a misrepresentation of the situation, emphasizing that Charles’ silence was not a personal slight but a necessary measure to avoid unconstitutional interference in a legal matter. “It would have been constitutionally improper for His Majesty to intervene,” the source said. “The King is deeply frustrated that Harry seems unable to acknowledge the constraints of his position.”
The legal battle began after Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped back from their roles as senior working royals in 2020 and relocated to California. As a result, the Home Office downgraded Harry’s security status, removing the automatic provision of publicly funded protection typically afforded to full-time royals in the UK. Harry challenged this decision, arguing that the process was unfair and that he and his family faced ongoing security risks, particularly during visits to the UK. His legal team contended that the decision-making process lacked transparency and failed to adequately assess the threats against him.
However, the High Court and subsequent appeals have consistently upheld the Home Office’s stance. The latest ruling on May 2, 2025, reaffirmed that the government’s decision was lawful and that Harry’s security arrangements would remain at a reduced level, determined on a case-by-case basis. The court noted that the security measures were proportionate given Harry’s status as a non-working royal and that the process had been rigorously evaluated.
Harry’s public response to the ruling has drawn significant attention, with the Duke expressing disappointment and hinting at broader systemic issues. In the BBC interview, he suggested that the decision reflected entrenched biases within the British establishment and reiterated his concerns about the safety of his wife and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. “I just want my family to be safe when we’re in the UK,” Harry said. “It’s not about special treatment—it’s about fairness.”
These remarks, however, have reportedly deepened the rift with his father. The Palace insider told The Sun that Charles was “personally hurt” by Harry’s implication that the King was indifferent to his family’s safety. “The suggestion that His Majesty doesn’t care is deeply wounding,” the source said. “The security issue has been examined thoroughly by the courts, and the decisions have been clear. The King cannot override the law, nor would it be appropriate for him to try.”
The ongoing feud over security is just one facet of the broader estrangement between Harry and the royal family. Since stepping back from royal duties, Harry and Meghan have been vocal about their experiences within the monarchy, including in their 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview, their Netflix docuseries, and Harry’s 2023 memoir, Spare. These revelations have fueled tensions with King Charles, Prince William, and other senior royals, with public reconciliations appearing increasingly elusive.
Despite the strain, Harry has publicly expressed a desire to mend ties with his father. In recent interviews, he has spoken warmly of Charles, particularly in light of the King’s cancer diagnosis in 2024, and has indicated a willingness to rebuild their relationship. However, sources suggest that Harry’s latest comments may have set back these efforts. “The King wants peace within the family, but public attacks make that difficult,” the Palace insider noted. “Respecting the constitutional boundaries of the monarchy is fundamental, and Harry’s failure to do so is a source of ongoing frustration.”
The Palace has maintained a stoic silence on the matter, with official statements limited to acknowledging the court’s rulings and reiterating that security decisions are handled by the government, not the monarchy. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson declined to comment further, stating only that “security arrangements for members of the royal family are a matter for the Home Office and relevant authorities.”
As the dust settles on Harry’s latest legal defeat, the question of whether father and son can find common ground remains unanswered. For now, the divide between the House of Windsor and its California-based duke appears as wide as ever, with mutual frustration overshadowing hopes of reconciliation.
