King Charles' 'clear message' to son Prince Harry during VE Day event
Prince Harry has recently been open about his desire for reconciliation with his family
King Charles may have used his recent palace balcony appearance marking VE Day to send a subtle message to his estranged son, Prince Harry.
As the royal family gathered on the Buckingham Palace balcony for a flypast marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day, many fans noted who was, and wasn’t, included.
According to a royal expert, that carefully curated line-up was more than just tradition – it was a statement.
Speaking on behalf of Slingo for Royal Insider, former royal butler Grant Harrold believes King Charles used the high-profile occasion to send a “clear message” to his youngest son, Prince Harry, about his place, or lack thereof, in the monarchy’s future.
Prince Harry wants family ‘reconciliation’
The commemorative event came just days after Prince Harry gave an emotional interview in which he revealed he is no longer in contact with his father.
Expressing hope for reconciliation, Harry told BBC News: “I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious. I don’t know how much longer my father has.”
However, the king has yet to respond publicly and his actions may speak louder than words.
According to Grant, the recent balcony appearance made that silence even more pointed.
For generations, appearances on the palace balcony have signalled royal unity.
This is a clear message to Prince Harry – this is the royal family, this is it now.
From weddings to jubilees, who stands beside the monarch, and who does not, has always held significance.
And this year, Grant believes that King Charles used the opportunity to make a quiet but firm statement about who remains part of the royal fold.
“It’s very positive to see the Prince and Princess of Wales, their children, Princess Anne with her husband, and Edward and Sophie on the balcony with the king and queen,” Grant explained.
“This is what I imagine is the future of balcony appearances. You used to get a lot of extras on the balcony, but this shows how much it’s changed. It’s changed a lot.”
King Charles’ ‘clear message’ to Harry at VE Day event
The 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day – the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Germany’s unconditional surrender of its armed forces in 1945 – was marked with a grand RAF flypast and a traditional gathering of the royal family on the Buckingham Palace balcony.
The refined line-up is reflective of King Charles’ long-term vision for a more streamlined monarchy.
And the absence of Prince Harry, who stepped down from royal duties in 2020, is also part of that shift.
“It’s a smaller royal family. This is a clear message to Prince Harry – this is the royal family, this is it now. What we saw on the balcony is the future of the monarchy,” Grant added.
“It’s a very important signal to them, but also to the country and to the world.”
Prince Harry continues to speak publicly about his desire for a reunion. However, his father’s reported lack of communication and this symbolic snub suggest the gap between them is far from closing.
Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have remained at the centre of public debate.
Their tell-all interviews, Netflix series and Harry’s memoir Spare have only deepened the alleged rift within the family.
Read more: Prince Harry’s meeting with King Charles ‘lasted only minutes’ as he hopes for reconciliation
So, what do you think? Do you think the king should forgive Harry? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page.
