King Charles “hardly knows” Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet amid the Sussexes cutting royal ties, a commentator has claimed.
Five years have passed since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their departure from the Royal Family in a shocking statement on January 8, 2020.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex declared their intention to “carve out a progressive new role” within the institution and become financially independent.
King Charles continues to feel the emotional impact of Megxit, according to a royal commentator, particularly regarding his limited contact with his grandchildren.
King Charles ‘hardly knows’ Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet amid Sussexes cutting royal ties
Getty / Netflix
The monarch has only seen Archie a handful of times as a baby, while his meetings with Lilibet have been limited to just one occasion since her birth.
With both children being raised thousands of miles away in California, Charles has been forced to watch them grow up through rare photographs and social media clips.
Sources indicate the King remains committed to building a relationship with his grandchildren, despite the geographical distance.
Royal commentator Jennie Bond highlighted the King’s ongoing sadness over the situation.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved to California after they announced they would step back as senior working royals in January 2020Netflix“It must remain a great sadness to the King to be so distant from his two US-based grandchildren – he hardly knows them and there’s no prospect of that changing any time soon,” she told The Mirror.
“The early years in a child’s life are so magical – and once they’re gone, they’re gone. I hope the King doesn’t dwell on his loss too much, but it must hurt.”
Bond suggested there might be hope, adding: “Maybe, behind the scenes, Harry and Meghan have sent pictures to the King.”
Meghan has recently embarked on a new venture, launching a cookery series titled “Meghan, With Love” to complement her American Riviera Orchard brand.
King Charles with Prince Archie when he was a baby
Chris Allerton / SussexRoyal
The series marks a return to her roots, with Bond noting this represents “an entirely new phase for Meghan.”
“She was trying to set up as a lifestyle guru before Harry came along, so it makes perfect sense for her to pursue this avenue,” Bond explained.
The commentator added that the show promises “an entirely wholesome, feel-good vibe” during troubled times.
Bond doubts the Sussex children will feature in the series, given their parents’ approach to privacy.
Lilibet was shown standing on a picnic blanket as she shared a mother-and-daughter moment with Meghan MarkleInstagram
She said: “There’s a sense of intrigue about Archie and Lilibet because we have seen so little of them, but I doubt they will feature in Meghan’s shows.
“Especially as the filming was done away from their Montecito home.
“At most, there might be fleeting glimpses of them.
“Quite understandably, Harry and Meghan have chosen to bring them up extremely privately.”