KING Charles, who turns 75 this week, has had a challenging first year on the throne.
He is apparently still in "great pain" over decisions made by his youngest son, who will not be coming to the UK for his father's celebration next week.
The family rift, years in the making now, appears not to be easing with time.
And while royal author Duncan Larcombe previously told The Sun that while King Charles is open to a reconciliation with his youngest son, he is apparently still unhappy with Harry for his "betrayal".
Lack of communication
There is apparently "barely any level of communication" between Harry and Charles anymore, The Daily Mail reports.
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And Duncan told The Sun that the King will now only communicate with his son through palace advisers after Harry snubbed the King’s offer of staying with him at Balmoral to mark the first anniversary of the Queen’s death.
Duncan said: “It appears that King Charles’ approach towards Harry now is business as usual - ‘if you want to see me you need to make an appointment’.
"Harry will have to get past the grey suits and jump through hoops to talk to his father. It's very standoffish but I think that's a way that the king is subtly punishing his son.”
Queen Elizabeth's last years
Charles is also deeply hurt over the anguish he believes his youngest son caused the late Queen Elizabeth, the Mail claims.
Her final years were partly clouded with issues of family politics, particularly when the Sussexes up and left the UK for a life in California.
Attempts at reconciliation, mediation or communication within the family was widely reported as strained, at best, in the years following.
And the Queen, who was also a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother to those involved, was likely affected by the tumultuous events.
While Charles apparently is notorious for his dislike of conflict, he will apparently never give up entirely on a relationship with his son.
But he has reportedly rejected Harry's demands for an "apology", after being left fuming over his treatment of the Queen and the rest of the family.
Insulting Queen Camilla
A particularly painful part of Charles' relationship with Harry over the years has related to his stepmother, the now Queen and Charles' beloved wife, the Mail report.
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Duncan also told The Sun that the King is still upset about Harry’s treatment of his stepmother Camilla in his autobiography, branding her a ‘villain’.
He added: “Harry has said some deeply hurtful things about Camilla, and yet the King will still correspond with his son, albeit not directly.
"It’s remarkable really, because when Charles became King he said he loved Harry and Meghan which was a huge olive branch - which Harry then took, snapped in half and then hit him with it.
“That said, the King is still keeping those channels of communication open, where William isn’t. The brothers’ line of communication is completely broken.”
