Prince Harry and Meghan Face Fresh Backlash as Silence Over Charles Spencer’s Royal Claims Raises Questions

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are facing fresh criticism over their silence following Charles Spencer’s explosive claims about King Charles, with some commentators interpreting their lack of a public defence of the monarch as support for Harry’s uncle.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not publicly backed Spencer’s allegations, nor have they issued a statement defending Charles since Swan Song: Diana, My Sister reignited controversy surrounding the late Princess Diana.

Their silence has nevertheless attracted attention because Harry has reportedly been attempting to improve his relationship with his father following years of tensions between the Sussexes and the Royal Family.

The memoir arrived at a particularly sensitive moment, with reports suggesting Charles and Queen Camilla had become more open to rebuilding a personal family relationship with Harry and Meghan.

Any such reconciliation would reportedly concern their position as family members rather than represent a return to official royal duties. There has been no announcement suggesting the Sussexes will resume roles as working royals.

Reports have also claimed Prince William remains more cautious about his younger brother’s return, while Charles has shown greater willingness to allow their personal relationship to improve.

Against that backdrop, critics have questioned why Harry has not publicly defended his father from allegations made by Spencer, especially after Buckingham Palace took the unusual step of responding to the memoir.

Some observers have gone further by interpreting Harry and Meghan’s silence as an endorsement of Spencer. However, remaining publicly silent does not establish that either Sussex agrees with the Earl’s disputed account.

The situation was complicated by reports quoting Spencer as suggesting Harry was “completely fine” with the memoir, a description that fuelled speculation about what the Duke privately thought of his uncle’s decision to publish it.

Spencer has since offered a much clearer account of Harry’s actual involvement. Speaking to Gayle King on CBS Mornings, he insisted Harry played no role whatsoever in preparing the book.

The Earl said nobody in his family knew about the memoir until shortly before it was publicly announced, specifically explaining that he wanted to prevent people from assuming Harry was involved because his nephew had stayed with him during the summer.

“It was really important for me that they weren’t,” Spencer said after explaining why Harry and other relatives had been kept away from the project. Harry himself has not publicly endorsed the allegations concerning his father.

That distinction is significant as speculation grows about whether the controversy could damage Harry’s reported efforts to rebuild trust with Charles. The Duke remains close to his mother’s family, but that relationship does not automatically mean he shares Spencer’s views of the King.

For now, Harry and Meghan appear to have chosen not to publicly enter the dispute between Charles and Spencer. Their silence may continue to fuel competing interpretations, but Spencer’s own denial of Harry’s involvement means there is currently no confirmation that the Sussexes helped with or privately supported his controversial attack on the King.