Prince Charles enjoys a close relationship with both of his sons, though it hasn't always been that way. Royal biographer Penny Junior has noted that when the boys were young, Charles wasn't able to spend as much time with them as he might have liked.
"It is a slightly tricky relationship because Charles has always been quite a remote figure, he has always been consumed by work. That's not a product of a lack of love. It's a product of the fact he is so focused on his work, and the need to make a difference in the world that, like many people who are seeking to make a difference in the world, he has sometimes overlooked friends and loved ones beside him."
But in recent years it's become clear that the three genuinely love and respect one another. Prince Charles and Prince William share a particularly unique connection, as they are first and second in line to inherit the throne.
As part of that relationship, the two will assume many of the same responsibilities when they pick up the mantle. Prince William recently commented on this fact, and Charles has said that William's words reduced him to tears.
A new ITV documentary, titled Prince Charles: Inside the Duchy of Cornwall, sheds light on many professional and personal aspects of Charles' life. In the documentary, Charles shares how watching footage of a conversation that Prince William had with Mervyn Keeling, a second-generation tenant in Cornwall, made him cry.
In the clip, Mervyn and William are talking about the importance of family in terms of the line of succession. William comments, "I think it's important, Mervyn, about the family angle. I really do. I've started to think about how I will inherit the Duchy one day and what I do."
The Duchy of Cornwall was established in 1337 by Edward III for his own heir, Prince Edward. The duchy is the source of both of Prince Charles's titles: Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall. The duchy consists of 53,000 hectares of land and a financial portfolio, and both are managed by Prince Charles.
The duchy is obviously really important to Charles, and he told ITV that William's words meant a lot.
"I saw it and I couldn't believe it. I was deeply touched by what he said. Frankly, it reduced me to tears. It did really. Because I suddenly thought, well, just hearing that from him has made all the last 50 years worthwhile."
Following the death of Princess Diana in 1997, Prince Charles really had to step up and be there for his sons.
Prince Harry has told the BBC that Charles definitely did that. "[Our dad] was there for us — he was the one out of two left, and he tried to do his best and to make sure that we were protected and looked after."
Prince William has also spoken about his own relationship with Charles over the years. The pair exchanged letters while William attended classes at Eton, and he and Harry often had to ask one another to interpret their father's words owing to his rather awful handwriting.
Harry said, "At school, we regularly swapped letters and said 'erm, I think I know what it says, can you read it to me?' And it was just drivel."
Through the years, various sources and publications have implied or outright said that Charles has a contentious relationship with his sons, but that claim has always been ignored or denied. In 2018, The Daily Beast published a piece that insisted all was not rosy between father and sons.
"They are very different people and they just don't get on. It's as simple as that. They rarely see each other outside of official business."
Prince Charles' team at Clarence House flat-out denied the allegations, and issued a statement insisting that the story was a "total fabrication."
Whatever the true story is, William and Harry are both clearly big fans of their father.
When Prince Charles turned 70 in 2019, Harry praised his father.
"His enthusiasm and energy are truly infectious; it has certainly inspired William and I to get involved in issues we care passionately about and to do whatever we can to make a difference."
He added, "In fact, many of the issues William and I now work on are subjects we were introduced to by our father growing up. His passion and dedication are remarkable and seeing so many of you here today, I cannot fail but to be in awe of the drive he has had for so many years, to contribute to the enrichment of society both in this country and around the world."
