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As the British royal family marked the second anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's passing, revelations surfaced that sent ripples through Buckingham Palace. King Charles found himself concerned about the mounting personal crises affecting his family. An insider claimed the monarch's actions recently had left certain royals, including Queen Camilla, disappointed.
Thin and frail, King Charles greeted grieving families of victims from a family tragedy with the weight of the world seemingly on his shoulders. While palace sources assured the public of his good health as he returned to work, there were concerns Charles was not as well as portrayed. It seemed everyone in the family had their issues, be they health, financial or legal. Few appeared to be getting on as well as the king would like.
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The situation with Prince Andrew at the Royal Lodge had somewhat divided the family, or at least shown who remained loyal to Charles' late mother, the former Queen. Princess Anne, Prince Edward and their wives Sophie and Camilla all felt disappointed by how the king had handled Andrew. Then there was the poor relationship between Charles' two beloved sons, Princes William and Harry. Charles could not believe what Harry had done by distancing himself from the royal family; it had forever changed William. William had made it clear he did not want Harry at his upcoming coronation, a decision that broke Charles' heart. He had held out hope the brothers would reconcile but it seemed unlikely to happen in his lifetime.
There had also been fallouts with Charles' nieces Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who were deeply concerned Andrew received no protection. Even Camilla found herself upset with Charles' irritation during their summer stay at Balmoral Castle, bearing the brunt of his frustrability. The 75-year-old monarch struggled taking a break from the pressures of his role, though he knew the importance of relaxation.
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Last month, it was reported Prince Andrew might have to vacate his Royal Lodge home after King Charles removed his 10-person security detail, saying they would no longer be needed in the autumn. The disgraced Duke of York remained an apparently ungovernable figure. The king had issued Andrew an ultimatum - become self-sufficient and pay his own living costs at the lodge, or move to accommodations more befitting his diminished status, such as nearby Frogmore Cottage which had formerly housed Harry and Meghan.
For now, the so-called "siege of the Royal Lodge" showed no signs of ending. Andrew held a lease on the property until 2078 and refused to consider leaving, having spent over £8.5 million including £7 million in renovations since moving in in 2003, the year after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. He believed he had the right to remain alongside his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson for as long as he pleased. Like a grumpier stouter version of Greta Garbo, Andrew wanted to be left alone.
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There had certainly been a lot for King Charles to contend with recently. However, he had always remained upbeat, never allowing himself to doubt the future. He had dealt with problems head-on and was now focused on getting back to business. A spring had returned to his step and a renewed vigor, with only positive things seemingly on the horizon. This welcome change was much-needed.
The king put finishing touches on arrangements for his and Queen Camilla's first international tour, to Australia and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa next month. Charles told aides he wanted to make up for lost time and cement his own legacy, while also beginning plans to commemorate his late mother Queen Elizabeth in May 2023, which would have been her 96th birthday.
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When Prince Harry was in London in May for a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, Charles did not meet with his grandson. A palace insider said the king would prefer better family relations but was focused on other priorities. As the royal family neared the two year anniversary of the Queen's passing, Charles could only hope the personal crises would come to an end and allow him to fully guide the monarchy into the future.
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