King Charles and Queen Camilla go to church on Sunday at Crathie Kirk – amid reports that Prince Harry was optimistic the Royal Family would reach out despite his upcoming book.

The King and Queen were present at the Sunday service at Crathie Kirk close to Balmoral this morning, following the critical piece about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Vanity Fair.

Travelling in their Audi, Charles, 76, and Camilla, 77, looked relaxed as they made their way through the roads close to their Scottish estate.

Wearing a smart cream coat, the King sat behind the Queen as they were driven through the streets of Crathie on the chilly winter day.

Sitting in the front passenger seat and showcasing a radiant smile, the Queen put on a stylish display in a fur hat. 

Their attendance today follows the release of a controversial new article in Vanity Fair alleging that Prince Harry had expected to receive messages from his family members after revealing his shocking memoir, Spare.

After publishing his revealing book in January 2023, the Duke of Sussex apparently shared with a guest at a later event that same year that he had not been contacted by any of his royal relatives since the book’s release.

But, the source added, Harry had a ‘very genuine’ hope that they might reach out in the future. They told the magazine: ‘That’s sort of what made me so sad. His hope seemed very genuine. And I was just kind of like, “Oh, no”.’ 

They said Harry had seemingly not ‘absorbed the gravity’ of publishing the memoir, which included bombshell accusations against his family.

The King and Queen (pictured) attended Sunday service at Crathie Kirk near Balmoral this morning – following the damning profile about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Vanity Fair

This included those about his brother Prince William, who Harry claimed branded Meghan ‘difficult’, ‘rude’ and ‘abrasive’, and even accused him of pushing him into a dog bowl.

The source continued: ‘The power of the written word, and the power of the narrative. I don’t know if that’s something he understood while he was doing it.’

Just over a year after Spare was released, Harry reportedly visited King Charles for a ‘brief meeting’ in February 2024, following the revelation of his cancer diagnosis.

Although Charles is said to have been left wounded by his son’s behaviour in recent years, he has always privately insisted he will keep the door open for him to at least speak.

It was reported at the time that Harry spent around 45 minutes chatting with his father, which is thought to be their first proper contact in 15 months.

It was their first formal meeting in person since the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022.

Their appearance today comes after Vanity Fair’s explosive new article claimed Prince Harry (pictured with Meghan and the King in June 2018) had hoped to hear from members of his family after publishing his bombshell memoir Spare

Travelling in their Audi, Charles, 76, and Camilla, 77, looked relaxed as they made their way through the roads close to their Scottish estate

Wearing a smart cream coat, the King sat behind the Queen as they were driven through the streets of Crathie on the chilly winter day

Sitting in the front passenger seat and showcasing a radiant smile, the Queen put on a stylish display in a fur hat

The King waved to well-wishers as he left the Sunday church service at Crathie Kirk, near Balmoral

Three months later Harry returned to the UK for a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, but this time did not meet with his father. 

While the Prince had hoped for another catch up during his trip, he was unable to do so because of the monarch’s ‘full programme’ that day. 

Harry’s spokesman said at the time: ‘In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not The Duke will meet with his father while in the UK this week, it unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full programme.

‘The Duke of course is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.’

Then in August 2024, Harry and his brother were seen together for the first time in two years after attending the funeral for their uncle Robert Fellowes, despite an ongoing rift between them. 

The last time the warring brothers were in the same room as one another was for the King’s Coronation – more than a year ago. However, witnesses said they didn’t see the warring brothers speak.

Reports at the time claimed Harry made a discreet dash to Britain to attend the service for the 82-year-old who was their mother Diana’s brother-in-law after his passing in July.

The two brothers have barely spoken to each other since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex left the UK for the US and abandoned royal duties, with their feud having been exacerbated by the publication of Spare.   

Prince Harry had reportedly hoped to hear from members of his family after publishing his bombshell memoir Spare, according to an article. Harry is pictured with his brother in July 2021

The brother’s rift was exacerbated by the publication of Harry’s memoir Spare (pictured) in January last year that levelled accusations against his family

The youngest brother also reached out to William after his wife, the Princess of Wales’, shock cancer diagnosis last year.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were understood to have made contact with the Prince and Princess of Wales ‘privately’.