Harry's Public Plea: The 2020 Move That Complicates Reconciliation

Prince Harry has made it clear he wants to fix his relationship with the Royal Family.

In a recent interview with GQ magazine, the Duke of Sussex addressed the complicated state of his family ties. He said, "With everything else that's going on in the world, the most important thing is to reconcile. That's the key point." The comment comes after several years of distance, particularly between him and his elder brother, Prince William.

The current rift dates back to 2020, when Harry and his wife, Meghan, stepped back as working members of the Royal Family. The couple moved to California. While in the United States, they released a Netflix docuseries, gave an interview with Oprah Winfrey, and published Harry's memoir, Spare. These projects offered detailed views on the family, including pointed criticism of its members. Harry and Meghan returned to the United Kingdom with their two children in August.

The path forward is not straightforward. Carolyn Harris, a Toronto-based royal author and historian, noted that King Charles III likely wants to spend time with his grandchildren. She said a personal reconciliation on that level is possible. However, she described a full family reconciliation as very unlikely due to events over the past six years.

Craig Prescott, a constitutional expert and lecturer in law at Royal Holloway, pointed out a terminology conflict. He cited reports in The Sunday Times that Harry and Meghan dislike the term "working royal." They prefer to call themselves "royals who work." Prescott argued this creates confusion. He said, "If you wanted to seek reconciliation with the broader Royal Family, don't let it come out that you don't like the term that defines them rather than you."

The public nature of the latest overture may also hurt its effectiveness. Harris said that the more Harry speaks to the press, the less likely a reconciliation becomes. She explained that family members worry that if they meet with Harry, he will discuss the meeting in future interviews. Prescott added that Harry and Meghan are trying to achieve private things by going public. He stated, "Generally, that's not how the monarchy works." He noted that William is keen on keeping a strict distinction between private and public roles.

Prescott observed that William often talks about "going to work." He said Harry's approach is almost an anathema to William's method. Harris noted that the conflict has actually brought William and King Charles closer together. She said it is rare for a monarch and an adult heir to be on the same page in this manner.

Royal rifts have happened before, but Harry's situation has its own history. During the medieval period, there was a formal ceremony of reconciliation for conflicts between royal fathers and sons. These ceremonies were often facilitated by royal women acting as peacemakers. More recently, King Edward VIII remained out of the family for the rest of his life after his abdication in 1936. Prescott said that while Edward was a former King, Harry is only the son of the King. He added, "You can still see that, in a sense, if you're in, you're in, if you're out, you're out."

The situation intersects with King Charles's current travel. The King is visiting the Bahamas, Guyana, and Antigua and Barbuda. In the Bahamas, he acknowledged the great suffering and injustices of the past in these islands and beyond. Buckingham Palace called the visit a diplomatic success, but Niambi Hall Campbell-Dean, chair of the Bahamas National Reparations Committee, said an acknowledgment is not enough. She told As It Happens, "We need accountability. We don't just need statements of regret." She compared an acknowledgment to someone hitting your car and saying sorry, while an apology is saying sorry and offering insurance.

The British government has shifted its position. Prime Minister Andy Burnham wrote in The Guardian that he is open to calls for a formal apology for Britain's role in slavery. He rejected financial reparations but said he wants to launch a new drive on debt. Prescott said this signifies a clear softening in the U.K. government's stance. He noted that this takes the heat off the King, as the focus shifts to politicians reaching an agreement. Charles is scheduled to arrive in Antigua and Barbuda on Friday night and will deliver the opening address at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting on Tuesday.