Prince Charles And Prince William's Relationship: How Has It Changed Over The Years?

Prince Charles and his eldest son William seem to have become closer than ever, and their once-challenging relationship has transformed into one of love and respect.

To mark Father’s Day on Sunday, Kensington Palace released a photograph of the father-son duo that shows them in an intimate setting.

Taken by Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge last December on the Sandringham estate, the photograph shows Prince Charles affectionately resting his head on William's shoulder.

A source told Vanity Fair that Prince Charles loves the picture and wanted others to see it. The picture also speaks volumes of their improved relationship, said a source.

“It’s no secret that Charles and his son have had ups and downs in the past, but the relationship today is very solid and strong,” noted the source. “It is built on love, affection and respect. They are on the same wavelength these days and when Charles talks about William it is with great pride."

“ You often hear him talk of sovereignty and how they bond over this commitment to sovereignty. They will both be kings one day—and William’s oldest son will be king—and that is something that connects them and has brought them closer in recent years.”

Rumours of a strained relationship started way back in 1996 when Prince Charles and Diana decided to separate and get divorced. Prince William’s relationship with his father is said to have deteriorated further following his mother’s untimely death and Charles’ relationship with Camilla is said to have complicated the situation.

But the father and son appear to have grown closer in the past few years.

In the documentary "Prince, Son and Heir: Charles at 70 ," William spoke about wanting his father to slow down. “I would like him to have more time with the children… to, you know, play around with the grandchildren. When he's there, he's brilliant, but we need him there as much as possible.”

During a veterans event in February, Prince Charles’s biographer Sally Bedell Smith revealed that he seemed to have a warm relationship with William.

“One sensed a spontaneous warmth between them,” she told Vanity Fair. “Apart from the very visible bond, there’s plenty of evidence indicating a closer alignment between Charles and William.”