Royal staff have on occasion heard angry words exchanged between Prince William and King Charles over the years, even through thick palace walls, an expert reveals
12:43, 27 Sep 2025Updated 13:07, 27 Sep 2025
King Charles and Prince William have been overheard having “angry rows”(Image: Getty Images)
Recent rumours and reports have suggested that things between Prince William and King Charles are, on occasion, a little tense.
Whilst some royal sources have dismissed the claims that the monarch and his heir aren’t getting along well at the moment, more than one has admitted that over the years things have been somewhat fraught between them – even if they see eye to eye on most matters.
One expert recently revealed that “angry rows” have been overheard by royal staff between the father and son – even through the “thick palace walls”.
The rumours come as the Duke of Sussex is finally beginning the reconciliation process with Charles, with whom relations had been icy for some time, though no such reunion is yet looking likely between Harry and his older brother.
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Things have not always been easy between Charles and William, royal expert, Rebecca English, explained, writing for the Mail Online. The acrimonious breakdown of Charles’ first marriage to William’s mother, Princess Diana, caused lingering tension between the father and son over the years.
Given the struggles the late Diana faced in her lifetime, and her heartbreak over Charles’s ongoing relationship with Camilla during their marriage, this is perhaps not a surprise.
“Harsh words have been exchanged in the past, angry rows permeating even the thickest castle walls, sometimes within earshot of staff,” the expert writes.
“There have also been clashes of opinion on the professional side, such as the retention of ivory treasures in the Royal Collection (William wants to burn them, Charles believes they should be kept as historical artefacts), which not so long ago resulted in a ‘frank’ exchange.”
A royal aide speaking anonymously to the Standard recently echoed these sentiments, noting that William and Charles have long had a “tricky relationship”.
So much so that “William never phones his Dad directly but has to schedule a call through the King’s private office”.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment when contacted by the Mirror.
In Prince Harry’s bombshell memoir Spare, he also pointed out that seeing his father and brother getting along rather than “squabbling” was a stand-out moment, when he met up with them after Prince Philip’s funeral, and only weeks after his and Meghan’s explosive sit-down with Oprah Winfrey.
However, English reports sources telling the Mail that William and Charles are not getting on any worse than usual, and that they might not see each other with great regularity, “but they never have” and are in “lockstep about the future of the monarchy”.
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