As the British royal family celebrated Father’s Day, King Charles paid tribute to fatherhood while continuing to face strained relations with his youngest son, Prince Harry.

On Sunday, June 15, King Charles and Queen Camilla’s official Instagram account shared a heartfelt post for the annual celebration, which takes place on the third Sunday of June in both the UK and the US.

The post featured two nostalgic black-and-white photos: one of a young Charles and his sister Princess Anne being pushed on a swing by their late father, Prince Philip, and another of Queen Camilla with her father, Major Bruce Shand. The caption read, “To all Dads everywhere, we wish you a happy Father’s Day today.”

Prince Harry Absent from Royal Celebrations

This year’s Father’s Day came just a day after Trooping the Colour, King Charles’s official birthday celebration, where several royal family members gathered. Notably absent were Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who were not invited to the event.

The ongoing tension between King Charles, 76, and Prince Harry, 39, has continued to cast a shadow over their relationship. The rift, which began in 2020 when Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties and moved to California, remains unresolved.

One key issue driving the distance between father and son is Prince Harry’s loss of publicly funded security in the UK after stepping down as a working royal.

On May 2, Harry’s appeal to reinstate that protection was rejected by a British judge, a decision Harry’s legal team described as vital for his safety.

This legal battle has become a significant point of contention in the family divide.