Queen's heartbreak as she takes Prince Harry’s recent comments about parenting in the Royal Family ‘very personally’

The Queen is said to be ‘deeply upset’ by her grandson's claims

Queen Elizabeth II during a visit to HMS Queen Elizabeth at HM Naval Base ahead of the ship's maiden deployment on May 22, 2021 in Portsmouth, England
(Image credit: Photo by Steve Parsons - WPA Pool / Getty Images)

The Queen has reportedly taken Prince Harry’s recent comments about “genetic pain and suffering” and Prince Charles’ approach to parenting “very personally” during what is already a very difficult time.  


The Queen is said to be "deeply upset" at Prince Harry’s recent comments about his life in the Royal Family and Prince Charles’ parenting. Prince Harry and Meghan’s shocking “tell-all” Oprah interview earlier this year has already led to rumors of tension between the couple and the royals. Though it's Harry's appearance on actor Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast that has once again got people talking.

Here he spoke out about “genetic pain and suffering” that he feels was being “passed on” in the Royal Family. He also explained that he wanted to “break that cycle” of pain for his own children, with his and Meghan’s second child due later this year. 

Reflecting on parenting in the Royal Family, Harry went on to discuss his father Prince Charles’ upbringing, declaring: "I started to piece it together and go 'Okay, so this is where he went to school, this is what happened, I know this about his life, I also know that is connected to his parents so that means he's treated me the way he was treated, so how can I change that for my own kids?'"

Queen Elizabeth II With Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Prince William And Prince Harry At The Opening Of A Fountain Built In Memory Of Diana, Princess Of Wales, In London's Hyde Park

(Image credit: Photo by Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images)

Some have viewed this as an apparent criticizim of not only the Prince of Wales’ parenting, but of the Queen and Prince Philip’s too. Following this interview, Prince Charles has been questioned over Prince Harry’s comments about the Royal Family. Now it’s been suggested that the Queen has taken them “very personally” at what is already a difficult time following Prince Philip’s death.

According to The Mail on Sunday, one source alleged: “Harry’s grandmother has taken this very personally and is deeply upset by what Harry has said, in particular his comments about Charles’s parenting and suggesting his father knows no better because of how he was brought up. It has been a very upsetting time.”

Whilst Prince Harry’s podcast remarks left many royal fans shocked, he has now also gone on to discuss his father’s parenting in his new Apple TV+ docuseries, The Me You Can’t See.

“My father used to say to me when I was younger, ‘Well, it was like that for me, so it’s going to be like that for you’,” he claimed.

Prince Charles and Prince Harry attend the Opening Ceremony of the Invictus Games at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on September 10, 2014 in London

(Image credit: Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

However, despite this astonishing revelation, it seems that Prince Charles remains hopeful that he and his youngest son will be able to grow close again in the future and will not be looking to distance himself from Harry.

“I don’t think the Prince will cut his son off despite what Harry has said,” one friend explained to The Mail on Sunday.

“Charles is such a gentle man and a dedicated father first and foremost. He’ll be feeling wretched. He wants to seek a reconciliation. He is not vindictive at all”, they added. 

Emma Shacklock

Emma is a Royal Editor with eight years experience working in publishing. Her specialist areas include the British Royal Family, ranging from protocol to outfits. Alongside putting her royal knowledge to good use, Emma knows all there is to know about the latest TV shows on the BBC, ITV and more. When she’s not writing about the next unmissable show to add to your to-watch list or delving into royal protocol, Emma enjoys cooking, long walks and watching yet more crime dramas!