King Charles was ‘crushed’ after ’20 minutes’ notice of Meghan announcement’

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King Charles is understood to have been left "crushed" by Prince Harry's confirmation of his relationship with Meghan Markle, which he reportedly found out about just 20 minutes before it was publicly announced.

Then the Prince of Wales, Charles was on the final stretch of a significant tour of the Middle East in November 2016 and was preparing to meet with the King of Bahrain in a delicate diplomatic summit.

But the news cycle was given a jolt on November 8 when his younger son decided to announce his new relationship with his now-wife, totally outshining Charles' efforts.

READ MORE: Meghan Markle was never likely to attend coronation due to 'impossible position'

In the biography Finding Freedom, which details the sensational 2020 Sussex split from the Royal Family, it was claimed Charles was blindsided by his son's public statement about his new girlfriend and was given just 20 minutes to process the new information before it was announced to the world.

Authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand said the King was "crushed" by the announcement, which he knew would dominate headlines over his much-anticipated Middle East tour.

"It was a critical moment that had been in the works for months," Finding Freedom reads.

"A statement from Kensington Palace condemning the Press and, in the same breath, confirming Harry's new girlfriend would all but eliminate coverage of Prince Charles's tour of the Gulf."

But despite being "disappointed" by the timing of the announcement, the book claimed Charles "understood that the situation with Meghan had reached a tipping point" and something had to be said.

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The same statement saw Harry accuse the UK press of "racial undertones" in its coverage of his rumoured relationship.

But the book also claimed Harry had a history of lashing out at anyone who "questioned his new relationship".

"He would wonder, 'Is this about race? Is it snobbery?'" the authors wrote.

He allegedly cut ties with a friend for "gossiping about Meghan" and was "poised for an outright war" with the press.

Harry even got into a row with older brother Prince William, who he described in his recent memoir, Spare, as his "arch-nemesis", after the future King told his brother: "Don't feel you need to rush this. Take as much time as you need to get to know this girl."

He thought William was "being a snob" about his romance with the Suits actress, according to a source.

"Harry was pissed off," they told the authors.

"Pissed off that his brother would ask such a thing. Some felt it was an overreaction."

Harry and his royal relatives, who have since become estranged from him, will come face-to-face at King Charles' coronation on May 6, believed to be the first time he has been reunited with his family since the Queen's funeral back in September 2022.

Meghan and the couple's two children, Archie and Lilibet, will remain in California and skip the ceremony, while Harry's visit is expected to be brief.

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