While the relationship between the Sussexes and Royal Family is fraught with controversy, King Charles has publicly taken a more compassionate approach towards Prince Harry and Meghan Markle since their royal exit in 2020.
asserted
Charles → take → 2020
The monarch has seemingly always been open to reconciliation with his youngest and in July hosted the Sussexes and their children at Highgrove House for the afternoon.
asserted
monarch → host → afternoon
Described as a 'private family occasion' by the Palace, it marked the first time the King had seen his grandchildren Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, in person for more than four years.
asserted
King → describe → years
Speaking to the Daily Mail, royal historian and author Andrew Lownie said the King offers 'more compassionate treatment' because he wants to avoid any mistakes that were made in the past, particularly in the case of the Duke of Windsor.
asserted
that → speak → Windsor
The Duke, formerly King Edward VIII, abdicated the throne in December 1936 to marry American divorcée Wallis Simpson – a move which directly clashed with his responsibilities as head of the Church of England and sparked a constitutional crisis.
asserted
which → abdicate → crisis
When Edward gave up the throne, his brother, who took on the regnal name King George VI, was said to have felt strongly that the couple could not return to the UK.
uncertain
couple → give → UK
According to Mr Lownie, Charles is conscious of ensuring that Harry and Meghan are not outcast from the Royal Family in the same manner – especially given that the Duke and Duchess are now said to be fostering a relationship with the monarch.
uncertain
Duke → accord → monarch
Meghan and Harry revealed they would be returning to the UK the month after the meeting, six years on from relocating to the US.
asserted
they → reveal → US
But whilst Charles publicly made it clear that they remain 'private citizens', the King once again showed his softer side when reportedly stepping in to help his son manage difficulties surrounding the Invictus Games earlier this month.
uncertain
son → make → Games
While the relationship between the Sussexes and Royal Family is fraught with controversy, King Charles has publicly taken a more compassionate approach towards Prince Harry and Meghan Markle since their royal exit in 2020
Speaking to the Daily Mail, royal historian and author Andrew Lownie said the King offers 'more compassionate treatment' because he wants to avoid any mistakes that were made in the past, particularly in the case of the Duke of Windsor (pictured with Wallis Simpson in 1942)
Initially, Uganda's Chief of Defence Forces and Senior Presidential Adviser for Special Operations announced on X that he was pulling his country's entry to the Paralympic-style event for military personnel over the ongoing 'Harry-Meghan nonsense' following the couple's bombshell return to the UK.
asserted
he → take → UK
But in a show of support for his son's charity, the monarch's right-hand man Private Secretary Sir Clive Alderton discreetly called General Muhoozi Kainerugaba to smooth over relations – and Uganda was soon allowed to return to the games.
asserted
Uganda → call → games
Edward VIII's reign, which started on January 20, ended in 325 days – making him one of the shortest-reigning British monarchs to date.
asserted
him → start → date
'The Sussexes... have put the Royal Family in a difficult position,' Mr Lownie, writer of best-selling book Entitled: The Rise And Fall Of The House Of York, told the Daily Mail.
'
asserted
Lownie → put → Mail
If they appear too unwelcoming they will be characterised as ill feeling – as happened with the Duke of Windsor.
asserted
they → appear → Windsor
Mr Lownie noted that if Charles comes across as 'too conciliatory', then he also risks being 'perceived as giving in to the Sussexes'.
asserted
he → note → Sussexes
The events that followed after Edward's abdication saw any possibility of his return to the UK fiercely rejected by the monarchy, government and nation.
asserted
possibility → follow → monarchy
'He [King George VI] knew allowing the Windsor's to return would invite endless headlines about their showboating, their parties and their politics: that toxic sideshow would make his own role impossible,' according to royal expert Christopher Wilson.
uncertain
role → know → Wilson
In October 1937, just ten months after Edward announced he was stepping down from the throne, Edward and Wallis caused further consternation with the Royal Family when they travelled to Nazi Germany and visited Hitler.
asserted
they → announce → Hitler
Edward and Wallis married in France at the opulent Chateau de Cande, which was owned by pro-Nazi businessman Charles Bedaux.
asserted
which → marry → Bedaux
He had agreed to let them use the venue on the agreement that the couple would visit Nazi Germany, where Bedaux had business interests.
asserted
Bedaux → agree → interests
The Duke, formerly King Edward VIII, abdicated from the throne in December 1936 to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson - a move which directly clashed with his responsibilities as head of the Church of England and sparked a constitutional crisis
According to Mr Lownie, Charles is conscious of ensuring that Harry and Meghan are not outcast from the Royal Family in the same manner - especially given that the Duke and Duchess are said to be fostering a relationship with the monarch since their UK return
During the quasi-royal visit in 1937, Edward was pictured seemingly performing a Nazi salute and meeting with both Hitler himself and other senior Nazi officials.
uncertain
Edward → abdicate → Hitler
So rather than have an ex-king with Nazi sympathies on the loose in Europe, Winston Churchill packed Edward off to be Governor of the Bahamas until 1945.
asserted
Churchill → have → 1945
On their return from the Caribbean, the couple settled back in their 14-room Parisian townhouse, enjoying weekends at their charming 26-acre estate to the south-west of the city, where they received guests including British fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley and his wife Diana.
asserted
they → settle → Mosley
The Duke had hoped his exile would be brief but he was never allowed to move back to Britain, with the King threatening to cut off his allowance if he tried to return without an invitation.
asserted
he → hop → invitation
When George VI died in 1952, his wife the Queen Mother blamed Edward and Wallis for his early death after he had to ascend to the throne reluctantly after the abdication.
Queen Elizabeth II was devoted to her father's memory and followed George's example by resisting schemes to bring the Windsors back into the fold.
Both Edward and Wallis blamed the Queen Mother for their banishment.
asserted
Edward → die → banishment
'The Duke would have loved to return to live in the land of his birth,' said Wallis in 1971.
asserted
Wallis → love → 1971
'But our way was blocked at every turn.
asserted
way → block → turn
We were never allowed to go back, and we never will be allowed.'
asserted
we → allow → ?
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, meanwhile, returned to British soil last month and are now said to be keen to spend more time with Charles and repair relationships with the Royal Family.
asserted
Duke → return → Family
A source previously told The Sunday Times: 'He [Harry] wants more of a foothold here, more trips back, less courtroom drama.
asserted
He → tell → foothold
And he always loves seeing his family.'
asserted
he → love → family
According to Mr Lownie, Charles is currently abiding by the 'tried and tested formula of seeing how events unfold' while also 'keeping a dignified distance'.
uncertain
events → accord → distance
And while the King is often depicted as a father who was a 'product of protocol and boarding schools' and maintained a 'stiff upper lip' at all occasions, the King has always spoken fondly of his affection for his youngest son.
asserted
King → depict → son
He referred to Harry as his 'darling boy' in a 2017 interview for the Today programme on BBC Radio 4.
asserted
He → refer → Radio
Harry shared how he and his father, whom he affectionately referred to as 'Pa', would 'talk for hours and hours' about Charles's passion for the environment.
asserted
he → share → environment
He also revealed how he valued his father's opinion saying: 'I do end up picking your brains more now than I ever have done.'
asserted
I → reveal → brains
Mr Lownie previously told The i that while Charles took a more 'sentimental' and 'very compassionate' approach towards Andrew, William is demonstrating his toughness now to ensure a 'clean slate' when his reign comes
The King's approach to Harry and Meghan differs sharply to William, who is thought to have had no contact with his younger brother after he quit royal duties (pictured in 2021)
However, the King's approach to Harry and Meghan differs sharply to William, who is thought to have had no contact with his younger brother after he quit royal duties, gave a tell-all interview to Oprah Winfrey with the Duchess and released his memoir Spare.
asserted
he → tell → memoir
Writing in her long read on the Princess of Wales in January, The Times' senior royal writer Kate Mansey said: 'Prince Harry is not in contact with William.'
asserted
Harry → write → William
The brothers are said to have barely spoken and have an 'incredibly strained' relationship after years of rows, while William is said to be focused on his royal roles and family life.
asserted
William → say → roles
Mr Lownie previously told The i newspaper that while Charles is more 'sentimental' and 'very compassionate', William is demonstrating his toughness now to ensure a 'clean slate' when his reign comes.
asserted
reign → tell → slate
…and 11 more, not listed.
The Aporia
