Prince Harry’s Frustration with King Charles Over Meghan Markle’s Exclusion from Royal Payroll

Prince Harry was reportedly “infuriated” after King Charles refused to put Meghan Markle on the royal family payroll, according to a new book by royal correspondent Robert Jobson titled “Our King.”

The incident occurred in 2016, just after Harry shared his plans to marry the American actress. Instead of receiving congratulations, Harry faced skepticism from his brother, Prince William, who asked, “Are you sure, Harold?” Following this, then-Prince Charles delivered the more significant blow, explaining that he couldn’t afford to support Meghan financially as he was already funding Camilla and William’s expanding family, Jobson writes in an excerpt obtained.

“This infuriated Harry,” Jobson noted, highlighting how the refusal led to one of the first major rifts between Harry and his father. The tension escalated when Charles stopped taking Harry’s calls after being sworn at and repeatedly asked for funds.

Jobson theorizes that King Charles’ initial refusal to accept Meghan as a working royal fueled the Sussexes’ grievances. This sense of exclusion was compounded by other perceived slights, including a spat between Meghan and Kate Middleton, where Meghan allegedly suggested Kate was suffering from “baby brain” before her wedding.

The strained relationship between Meghan and Kate began from their first meeting, with Meghan feeling that Kate was “stand-offish,” a sentiment that lingered through their years as in-laws. Additionally, Harry suspected that William disapproved of his relationship with Meghan, viewing it as a “whirlwind affair.”

Even Queen Elizabeth was reportedly disenchanted by Harry and Meghan’s behavior, especially after their explosive 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, where they accused the royal family of racism and lack of support. The late Queen described their actions as “quite mad” and believed Harry’s deep love for Meghan was “clouding his judgment,” according to Jobson.

This series of events, starting with the refusal to fund Meghan, significantly contributed to the growing divide within the royal family, highlighting the complexities and challenges of integrating new members into the established royal framework.