Excerpts from a forthcoming book about Prince Charles are so outrageous they're almost unbelievable, from accusations that he has a problem with his daughter-in-law's parents to his shortcomings as a father.
Investigative journalist Tom Bower makes some sensational claims in his new book, "Rebel Prince: The Power, Passion and Defiance of Prince Charles" (William Collins), out Mar. 22. Citing interviews with former members of the prince's staff and employees of his charities (to name a few), Bower's book accuses the prince of being spoiled, attention-seeking and clueless.
One such claim calls the relationship with his sons, William and Harry, "strained" due to Charles' ongoing affair with his now-wife, the Duchess of Cornwall.
"In the opinion of some of his staff, Charles’s lifestyle had blinded him to his sons’ personal troubles, and he was largely unaware of their coolness towards his mistress," Bower wrote, citing stories about Charles and Diana's adultery that surfaced over the years.
A big point of contention between Charles and his eldest son, William, happens to involve Prince George and Princess Charlotte. At one point Charles, according to Bower, felt "isolated" from his grandchildren and "usurped" by the Middletons because they got to spend more time with the children.
A few royal reporters tweeted their opinions of the book, and veteran royal photographer Arthur Edwards even penned an op-ed refuting Bower's claims
What some will concede is that the prince is privileged. However, being raised in palaces and castles does not cloud his ability to connect with others.
Charles has battled a bad reputation since his divorce from the late Princess of Wales, and while he has made his share of mistakes, the book seems to portray him in far too harsh a light.
The prince's schedule is non-stop, full of either royal engagements or royal tours abroad. He also takes great pride in the charities he supports, especially The Prince's Trust.
Secondly, anyone who has children knows the struggles of making sure they spend equal amounts of time with both sets of grandparents (if they're lucky enough to have both).
Let's not forget that Charles had the unenviable task of raising two grief-stricken teenage boys after their mother passed away in 1997.
Charles isn't perfect; he carried on a decades-long affair with a woman he should have married in the first place. And he's also been known to "meddle" in government affairs, something the future sovereign of a constitutional monarchy should not do.
Those who read Bower's book should take what the author says with a grain of salt. Charles might, at times, be "petulant," but he's also compassionate, generous and -- above all -- human.