Prince Edward's ex disputes longtime claims about King Charles, Prince Harry

Prince Harry, who is trying to reconcile with King Charles after years of feud, has suggested that his relationship with his father had always been strained.

However, there is a challenge to his claims made by someone who saw the royals very closely. Prince Edward’s ex-girlfriend, Ruthie Henshall, who dated him for five years, often witnessed family moments of the royals.

According to Ruthie’s account, Harry’s description of Charles as a father has a stark contrast to reality. She narrated an incident witnessing the bond between father and son, which had been nothing but warm and playful.

“I watched Charles playing rough and tumble with William and Harry (then aged ten and eight) in the Balmoral corridors,” she wrote in her book. “He clearly loved those boys, and they were squealing with joy as daddy chased them.”

Meanwhile, in Spare, Harry said that Charles was a “proud man” and “given an air of being not quite ready for parenthood”.

A prominent British journalist, Penny Junor also echoed Ruthie’s claims. Penny described Charles having ‘muddied trousers’ often after playing with his sons.

“Whenever Charles arrived at home at Highgrove by helicopter, it would land on the front field, where sheep graze,” she wrote. “As soon as William and Harry heard it overhead, they would come running out to meet him.”

She added that the young princes would jump into his arms for a hug.