Prince Harry wrote his father, King Charles, a “deeply personal” note before he returned to the UK for his grandfather, Prince Philip’s funeral

Prince Harry wrote his father a “deeply personal” note ahead of his homecoming for Prince Philip ’s funeral. The Duke of Sussex reached out to his father Charles after their relationship “hit rock bottom”, as he prepared to see his family for the first time since quitting royal life in 2020.

But Charles was “very hurt” by Harry’s decision to appear in a tell-all interview with US chat show queen Oprah Winfrey, while the Duke of Edinburgh was seriously ill in hospital. Sources close to the Duke of Sussex – who lives in California with wife Meghan and their children Archie and Lilibet – told how he has been “forced to write letters” to his father due to a “complete communication breakdown”.

In his correspondence he has “outlined his reasons for leaving” while promising to “respect the institution”, sources have revealed. Harry, 36, made the sensational claim that a member of the family commented on how “dark” his unborn children would be, while Meghan alleged the family refused to help her when she was feeling suicidal while pregnant in the bombshell Oprah interview.

Harry told Oprah his father and brother were “trapped” by the institution and couldn’t leave if they wanted to like he had done. Palace insiders revealed both future kings were “outraged” at the suggestion. A royal source said: “Truth be told, Harry didn’t really know what to expect before he came home, which is why he reached out before seeing everyone.