Charles is 'at the end of his tether' over Harry: Royal experts reveal Prince's concern over 'loose cannon' son 'blurting' claims about 'protecting' the Queen
The Queen's family is focusing on her birthday today – but Harry's latest televised jibes are said to have pushed Prince Charles to the end of his tether.
Her Majesty rang in 96 at her treasured Sandringham estate - pictured here on her way - as Buckingham Palace pointedly chose not to comment on more provocation from her Montecito-based grandson who claimed earlier this week that he was 'making sure the Queen is protected and has the right people around her'.
Prince Charles is said to be at the end of his tether with his youngest son as palace staff who cared for Her Majesty throughout the pandemic accused the Duke of Sussex of 'breathtaking arrogance' over his suggestion his grandmother needs extra protection.
He also risked further fueling the rift with his estranged older brother by stating that their late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, was now watching over him from beyond the grave as ‘she’s done her bit’ with Prince William and his family.
Tributes for the Queen's birthday have poured in from her family including William and Kate. To mark the occasion, a glorious photograph (pictured) has been released of Her Majesty standing with two of her own favorite fell ponies, Bybeck Nightingale and Bybeck Katie. Taken in the grounds of Windsor Castle in front of a spectacular magnolia tree last month, the picture – seen on today's front page – was released by the Royal Windsor Horse Show, which the Queen has attended every year since its inception in 1943.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared a picture of them with the Queen and said on Instagram (pictured): 'Wishing Her Majesty The Queen a very happy 96th birthday today! An inspiration to so many across the UK, the Commonwealth and the world, it’s particularly special to be celebrating in this Platinum Jubilee year'.
Prince Charles shared a series of images of his smiling mother through her life - as well as with him and his wife Camilla - with the caption: 'Wishing Her Majesty The Queen a particularly special 96th birthday today, as we celebrate her Platinum Jubilee year'.
Yesterday the monarch arrived at Wood Farm – the Norfolk farmhouse that Prince Philip made his retirement home – where it is expected she will be visited by friends and family over the next few days.
The show will put on a Platinum Jubilee extravaganza featuring more than 500 horses and 1,000 performers. 'It is an event she holds great affection for,' a source said. Although she has not been able to ride for several months, the Queen has ridden horses since the age of three and is passionate about everything equestrian.
The Queen has been suffering increasing mobility issues, and royal aides have indicated she cannot yet commit to any of the events planned to mark her 70 historic years on the throne. But it is understood staff are 'moving heaven and Earth' to ensure she can attend the Platinum Jubilee Epsom Derby in Surrey – and perhaps bag the win that has so far eluded her.
Regardless of the celebrations Buckingham Palace has been reportedly reeling after Harry's NBC TV appearance in which the prince opened up on his ‘special’ relationship with his grandmother, and his very public claim that she confides in him things she can’t talk to anyone else about. And in a barbed comment he said of his visit: 'I’m just making sure that she’s protected and got the right people around her'.
Royal expert Penny Junor said of Harry: 'He's a loose cannon. He was a loose cannon as a teenager and a young man. He came spectacularly good when he was in the Army and with his charity work. Then, after his marriage, things seemed to go to pot again and he is unpredictable in the things he has said and done'.
Ms Junor said that she believes that Harry's interventions will foster more distrust with his family and palace aides, who will fear there will be more to come on Netflix, Spotify and in his upcoming memoirs, which are bringing in tens of millions of pounds for him and his family.
She told The Sun: 'When he had a conversation with his father and William after Prince Philip's funeral that was leaked and then reported by Gayle King on CBS in America days later so I think the family should be wary of him if he comes to the Platinum Jubilee. He is under contract to Netflix for a lot of money and they are going to get their money's worth.'
Continuing, she said 'I fear he has slightly sold his soul to the devil. Any network is hungry for news and gossip about the Royal Family and the closer you can get to the real deal the better. And he is the real deal. You can't have a situation where Netflix or any other US channel is going to be reporting private conversations. I fear no good can come of this.'
Harry's decision to acrimoniously quit as a working royal and spend the last two years making a string of damning accusations against his family from across the Atlantic in California is understood to have caused the Queen great heartache because she is known to adore him.
Yet despite speaking to US network NBC he boasted about his special bond with the monarch - and how he makes her laugh - yet still refused to commit to attending her Jubilee celebrations. He again blamed 'security issues' for being unwilling to commit to him, Meghan, Archie, two, and Lilibet, 10 months, joining Her Majesty and the rest of his British family to mark the Queen's 70 years on the throne.
Harry and Meghan made a secret visit to Windsor last week before the Invictus Games but in his High Court battle with the Government he has said he 'does not feel safe' in the UK. Former royal bodyguards have insisted that when with the Royal Family or on royal property, the Sussexes would be fully protected by armed police.
Prince Charles is at the end of his tether with Harry, a royal expert has said - as palace staff accused the Duke of 'breathtaking arrogance' over a TV interview in which he claimed he wanted to 'protect' the Queen.
In a chat with US breakfast show Today, which aired on Wednesday, the Duke refused to say whether he misses his father Charles and brother Prince William. He also insisted that he speaks with the Queen 'about things she can't talk about with anybody else' and is 'making sure she has the right people around her'.
Robert Jobson, who co-wrote the book Diana: Closely Guarded Secret, claimed the Prince of Wales had only agreed to meeting Harry on his visit last Thursday on the condition that 'nothing would be said of him whatsoever' on American TV.
The royal correspondent told GB News: 'Prince Charles has reached the end of his tether, they haven't been in contact and had they have started blurting about that meeting, that would have been the end of it.'
He said Harry turned up late for the meeting, adding: 'All families have problems, but you don't go blurting off to your next door neighbor as soon as you've had a meeting. Prince Charles thought if these conversations are out in public then I'm not putting up with it and he's drinking at the last chance saloon.'
The comments came as royal staff said Harry's self-delusion knew 'no bounds' and insisted the Queen 'just doesn't deserve this' as she celebrates turning 96.
His remarks about the Queen prompted an unprecedented intervention from Downing Street, which dismissed Harry's suggestion that the Queen needed extra protection. Asked whether the Prime Minister was confident in the arrangements for ensuring the Queen's welfare, Boris Johnson's spokesman replied: 'Yes.'
The couple stopped off en route to see the Queen at Windsor Castle last Thursday, the first time the Duchess of Sussex has set foot in the UK for more than two years. Harry had not seen his grandmother since early last summer.
While the palace has refused to comment on the meeting, Harry, who is being accompanied by a film crew from Netflix with whom he has signed a production deal, was happy to chat to a journalist from US network NBC about their 'private' time together.
The prince appeared to make a pointed swipe at royal household staff, including the so-called 'men in grey suits' who advise the Queen – and possibly even his own family.
Speaking of his meeting with his grandmother, Harry said: 'It was great. It was really nice to see her in some element of privacy. Being with her it was great, it was just so nice to see her, she's on great form.
'She's always got a great sense of humor with me and I'm just making sure that she's protected and got the right people around her. Both Meghan and I had tea with her, so it was really nice to catch up with her. We have a really special relationship, we talk about things that she can't talk about with anybody else.'
A spokesman for the prince reportedly refused to explain his remarks in the interview further last night. Buckingham Palace pointedly chose not to comment, as did Kensington Palace on behalf of William.
But one well-placed royal source told the Daily Mail of the sense of shock at his 'breathtaking arrogance' and made clear that many felt Harry's delusion knew 'no bounds'.
'It is the Queen's birthday and despite a difficult year people are working full steam ahead on making her Platinum Jubilee an event to remember that properly honors such a remarkable woman. She just doesn't deserve this,' they said. 'I have no idea what intention he may or may not have had in saying this, but Harry needs to start thinking before he opens his mouth.'
During the interview the prince, who is still sixth in line to the throne, also made clear that he was planning to remain in the US for the foreseeable future and did not see the UK as his 'home'.
There has been speculation over whether he and his family will make a palace balcony appearance with the Queen during commemorations for her jubilee. But when asked about returning for June's celebrations he made clear this was not a done deal.
Harry is to sue the Home Office for the decision to pull his taxpayer-funded, 24-hour police protection when he left Britain. Harry is to sue the Home Office for the decision to pull his taxpayer-funded, 24-hour police protection when he left Britain.