King, on the other hand, has been sharing what she’s learned from Harry on her shows in the U.S.
A source told The Sun that William does not want the royal family’s private life to become “plastered over American TV.” It was King who broke the story that William and Harry’s conversations after the Oprah Winfrey interview was “unproductive.“
King, however, explained that she wasn’t out to get the news from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. However, she did call them up to ask how they were feeling days after the interview.
The host of CBS This Morning also said that Harry has spoken to his father, Prince Charles. However, no one from the royal family spoke with Meghan Markle.
The revelations from the American journalist have been criticized by British royal commentators as a breach of trust, especially after the queen said that they will be addressing Harry and Meghan’s sentiments privately. According to royal biographer Penny Junor, King’s pronouncements on her TV show, which is watched by millions in American, will make the family worry that whatever they tell Harry would end up on television.
Queen Elizabeth’s former aide, Dickie Arbiter, said that this controversy has to have a cooling-off period and that those who continue to talk about it on TV just “needs to shut up.” ITV commentator Chris Ship also said that King would not have revealed Prince William and Harry’s conversation if it did not have Meghan’s permission.
However, Omid Scobie, the royal journalist who wrote Harry and Meghan’s biography, Finding Freedom, sided with King. He said that the other royal commentators seem to be OK if the leaks came from a palace source but not from an American TV journalist.
Buckingham Palace, however, has no comment on King’s statements.
Days before King’s news, The Sunday Times reported that William and Harry have had contact. The news outlet, however, did not detail the nature of their conversation.
Harry has not been home in London since March 2020 due to the pandemic lockdown. The Duke of Sussex said his father cut him off financially at that time and then refused to take his calls.
Prince Harry also said that he is giving Prince William “space” amid their longstanding rift. He said that he’s been mostly talking to his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.