Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s announcement of their relationship reportedly left King Charles feeling “crushed” as it overshadowed a critical diplomatic tour of the Persian Gulf. The couple’s revelation, made public with just 20 minutes’ notice to Charles, shifted media attention away from the carefully planned tour. The timing of the announcement, as detailed in the book Finding Freedom by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, had a significant impact on the future monarch’s team, who had hoped for extensive media coverage of the tour. Charles reportedly feared that the couple’s relationship going public would dominate headlines and sideline the diplomatic event.
