King Charles III was reportedly a hands-off parent.
According to commentator Jennie Bond, His Majesty allowed his royal responsibilities to take him away from Prince William and Prince Harry when they were growing up.
Charles was ‘absent’ because of ‘work’
When the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex were young, Charles handed over parenting duties to nannies and staff.
Prince William, King Charles III and Prince Harry attend the Queen Mother’s 101st birthday in 2001. By: Kent Gavin/MEGA
“Not that Charles was a bad parent, but he was often an absent parent because his work diary is always crammed,” the expert told The Mirror.
It’s unclear whether or not this changed when Charles’ sons lost their mother, Princess Diana, in a car crash in 1997.
William is a ‘hands-on dad,’ unlike Charles
Despite being raised in an old-fashioned manner, the future king of England is extremely close with his three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Queen Camilla, King Charles III, Prince William, Princess Charlotte, Kate Middleton, Prince Louis and Prince George attend Trooping the Colour in 2026. By: MEGA
“This is where he has drawn a distinct line between himself and his father,” Bond remarked.
“Unlike in many previous royal marriages, William is a really hands-on dad, helping with the chaos of morning routines, doing the school runs, joining in the children’s games,” she claimed.
Charles and Diana’s different parenting styles
In the book William and Catherine: The Monarchy’s New Era: The Inside Story, author Russell Myers claimed that Charles and his first wife had drastically different approaches to parenting their boys.
Princess Diana, Prince William, King Charles III and Prince Harry at Balmoral in 1988. By: Hugh Farmer/MEGA
“Diana was adamant in her desire to give her boys a more ‘normal’ upbringing,” the journalist wrote in a passage obtained by Marie Claire.
“She took both boys on trips to theme parks, the cinema and even the fast food restaurant chain McDonald’s,” Myers claimed.
Charles ‘questioned’ Diana’s parenting
While Diana appeared to be a doting mother, the father of two thought she had other motives.
King Charles III, Prince William and Princess Diana pose together in 1984. By: MEGA
“While the British press lapped it up, Charles was horrified,” Myers alleged. “He questioned her motives to a former aide, asking, ‘Does she do it just to spite me?'”
“He also believed Diana’s displays of normality served to drive a wedge between him and the general public,” the writer added.
Charles and Diana’s differences over The Firm
The former couple separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996. Per Myers, Charles and Diana’s differing ideas about their royal responsibilities played a role in the demise of their relationship.
Princess Diana, Prince Harry, Prince William and King Charles III arrive at Eton College in 1996. By: MEGA
“[Diana’s] natural unwillingness to bend to conformity meant she wanted to give her children real life experiences that they might not have received if they’d stayed bound by royal protocol,” he said. “Visits to hospitals and homeless shelters followed.”
“Diana’s actions only caused more difficulty in her relationship with Charles, who responded by refusing to involve himself in his children’s education and making references to his wife’s ‘hysterical’ nature,” the reporter noted.