King Charles has 'washed his hands of Prince Harry and Meghan' in shock update
While Prince Harry and Meghan Markle prepare to dominate the headlines with their mid-April 2026 trip to Australia, the message from Buckingham Palace is one of quiet, yet firm, detachment. As of Monday, March 16, 2026, royal insiders suggest that King Charles III has effectively "washed his hands" of the California-based couple, choosing to focus on domestic crises rather than the "Sussex soap opera."
The "shock update" comes as the Duke and Duchess’s upcoming visit is rebranded as a high-stakes business and philanthropic blitz rather than a traditional royal tour.
"More Important Things to Worry About"
Veteran royal commentator Ingrid Seward shared the "washed hands" sentiment during a recent broadcast on TalkTV, noting that the King’s priorities have shifted significantly in light of the Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor scandal and his own ongoing health journey.
"I think the King has probably slightly washed his hands of them," Seward noted. "He's got plenty of other things to worry about. They do what they like up to a point."
The King is reportedly "miles away" from interfering in the couple's choices, viewing their "quasi-royal tours" as independent ventures for which the Palace bears no responsibility.
The "Test Market" Strategy
The April trip to Sydney and Melbourne is far from a standard vacation. With the couple’s recent split from the Netflix consumer investment group, Meghan is reportedly using Australia as the "first test market" for the global expansion of her lifestyle brand, As Ever.
Meghan’s Pivot: Insiders told The Telegraph that Australia has been "teed up" as the primary location for the brand's first physical pop-ups outside the US.
The "Pay the Bills" Reality: "They are private citizens and have to pay the bills like anyone else," a source noted, justifying the commercial nature of the visit.
The Itinerary: Mental Health and "Glitzy" Galas
The "separate ways" nature of the trip is designed to maximize their individual professional profiles.
The "Brainwashed" Allegations
The timing of the Australia announcement has been complicated by the release of Tom Bower’s new book, Betrayal.
The Claim: The book alleges that Queen Camilla privately remarked that Harry had been "brainwashed" by Meghan, leading him to ignore old friends and change his phone number without telling his family.
The Response: A spokesperson for the Sussexes slammed the claims as a "deranged conspiracy" and accused Bower of being driven by a "fixation" rather than a genuine understanding of their work.
The Palace Verdict
While the Sussexes "flourish" their upcoming plans, the Palace’s silence is deafening. Royal expert Jennie Bond suggested that the King and Prince William are "questioning the timing" of the Australia trip, fearing it may overshadow commemorations for the late Queen Elizabeth II’s 100th birthday later this year.
However, for now, the directive from the King is clear: as long as they are "private citizens," their Australian "business" is their own.
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