Prince Harry reveals Prince Charles stopped answering his phone calls after royal departure

Prince Harry has revealed that Prince Charles started ignoring his phone calls after he and Meghan shared their intentions to 'step back' as senior royals. 

• Prince Harry told Oprah that his father stopped answering his phone calls altogether during his preparation to withdraw from the royal family with Meghan Markle. 
• Harry said that his family was not 'blindsided' by the couple's departure and had engaged in multiple conversations on the matter with him and Meghan. 
• In other Royal News, Meghan Markle reveals she feels 'haunted' by a photograph of official event taken when she was having suicidal thoughts
  

Prince Harry has opened up about his strained relationship with Prince Charles, following his decision to 'step back' from the royal family with his wife, Meghan Markle. 

During the second half of the couple’s CBS interview with Oprah Winfrey, which will air on for British television tonight, the Duke of Sussex admitted his father refused to answer his calls after he emigrated to North America with Meghan. 

“You just said your dad stopped answering your calls,” Oprah said. “Why?” 

“Because I took matters into my own hands,” Harry explained. “It was like I need to do this for my family.” 

Harry was clear that, contrary to tabloid reports at the time of the couple’s departure in January 2020, the royal family was well aware of their plans to leave. 

“This is not a surprise to anybody; it's really sad that it's got to this point, but I've got to do something for my own mental health, for my wife's, because I could see where this is headed."

Harry also denied the widespread reports that the Queen was ‘blindsided’ by his and Meghan’s withdrawal from their royal duties. “No. I've never blindsided my grandmother,” he said. “I have too much respect for her.” 

When Oprah asked him how this rumor started, Harry suggested it may have been the work of Buckingham Palace. “I hazard a guess that it probably could have come from within the institution,” he said. 

According to Harry, he was open with both the Queen and Prince Charles on his intention to step down. 

"When we were in Canada I had three conversations with my grandmother and two conversations with my father before he stopped taking my calls,” he said. 

Prince Charles has yet to provide any comment on the interview.