Prince Harry fell victim to a clever prank orchestrated by his father, King Charles III.
The young prince, who had hurried back to the UK upon learning of his father’s cancer diagnosis, was left bewildered and embarrassed when he realized he had been conversing with a life-sized cardboard replica of King Charles while the real monarch had sneaked away to Sandringham for his treatment.
Sources close to the royal family revealed that Harry had flown in from Los Angeles on Monday and arrived at Clarence House on Tuesday, eager to see his ailing father.
Upon his arrival, a staff member informed Harry that his father was waiting for him in his study.
An emotional Harry entered the room and approached the figure seated at the desk, expressing his concern and attempting to mend their strained relationship following their very public disagreements over Harry’s departure from the royal family and his media ventures.
However, Harry soon detected something amiss – his father remained unresponsive, with glassy eyes and a fixed expression.
It dawned on Harry that he had been deceived by a well-crafted ruse involving a cardboard cutout.
Enraged and confused, Harry demanded an explanation from the staff member who had orchestrated the elaborate prank.
The staff member then played a pre-recorded video message from King Charles, revealing that the entire charade was a retaliation for Harry’s perceived disrespect and disloyalty.
The King had already departed for Sandringham, leaving behind the cardboard stand-in as a means of sending a message to his son.
Feeling humiliated and betrayed by his father’s actions, Harry promptly exited Clarence House without engaging with anyone else.
He swiftly made his way back to Los Angeles, where his wife Meghan Markle and their children awaited his return.
The incident proved to be a significant setback for Harry, who had hoped to use his visit to the UK as an opportunity to mend fences with his father and demonstrate his support and affection.
The prank not only highlighted the strained relationship between father and son but also underscored the lack of trust and respect King Charles harbored towards Harry.
By resorting to such a deceitful act, the King made it clear that he viewed Harry with disdain and considered him a mere nuisance.
The episode also served as a stark reminder to Harry that his efforts to reconcile with his family members, including his brother Prince William and sister-in-law Kate Middleton, were met with skepticism and mockery.
In the aftermath of the cardboard cutout con, Harry found himself grappling with feelings of hurt and disappointment.
The incident laid bare the deep-seated issues within the royal family and cast a shadow over Harry’s aspirations to mend broken ties and restore his reputation in the UK.
Despite his genuine intentions, Harry was confronted with the harsh reality that his father’s actions spoke volumes about the fractured dynamics within the royal household.