King Charles and Prince William are ‘allies’ and are working closer together since Prince Harry’s departure, according to insiders, with the Prince of Wales standing in for his dad at one D-Day event

Prince William and King Charles have become closer since Prince Harry left, according to insiders.

The 75-year-old monarch is said to see his son as a “useful ally” in managing the day-to-day issues affecting the Royal Family since ascending the throne. This has included Harry’s criticism of the two of them in TV interviews and his memoir, Spare. The Prince of Wales has also played a vital role in standing in for the King as he continues to receive treatment for cancer.

In previous years, it had been claimed that the huge amount of media attention given to William and Kate, Princess of Wales had given rise to occasional bouts of frustration in Charles – with one person likening this to a “green-eyed monster”. But this is far from the case now, according to insiders.

Prince Harry was not at this week’s D-Day commemorations ( 
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)

A friend told The Times: “If there was ever a green-eyed monster or a sense of rivalry between the two, that is a chapter of the past. The King sees his son as a useful ally on family matters and increasingly in discharging the duties of nation and state.” A source close to William meanwhile told the newspaper that the Prince of Wales “wants to support his father”, especially amid “everything the King is going through with his treatment”.

King Charles praised veterans at the poignant event ( 
Image:
PA)

One recent example of them working together was seen at the D-Day commemorations in Normandy this week, where a determined King Charles delivered a speech just hours after recieving his latest round of cancer treatment. He praised veterans and troops from Second World War as the generation who “did not flinch” and met veterans afterwards, before Prince William stepped in for his dad when he joined world leaders at the international ceremony on Omaha Beach.

Prince Harry did not attend the ceremony – and royal historian and expert Dr Tessa Dunlop has said she believes Harry will have been sad to see his brother at the events without him. She told the Mirror: “For the Duke of Sussex, looking on from the other side of the Atlantic, there will be some sadness. War is raging in the East of Europe right now and the Duke knows his presence not only captures headlines and boosts the Sussex brand, but helps tie war stories from the past to those in the present day. Likewise it is a loss for the Royal Family. The ageing King and Camilla with dutiful William know the drill but lack the pizzazz and lived frontline experience that these events thrive on.”