“It’s Not Reconciliation, It’s a Challenge”: Prince Harry Accused of Making His Rift With the Royal Family Even Worse

Prince Harry’s public calls for reconciliation with his father, King Charles III, and his elder brother, Prince William, could put the royal family in an awkward position. Rather than helping repair their relationships, his remarks are being perceived as an open challenge to the monarchy, royal biographer Hugo Vickers has told Page Six.

On Tuesday, October 20, the 42-year-old Duke of Sussex spoke to GQ about returning to the UK with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children, seven-year-old Prince Archie and five-year-old Princess Lilibet. He stressed that he wanted to rebuild his relationships with his relatives.

“Given everything that’s going on in the world, the most important thing is reconciliation. That’s what it’s all about,” Harry said.

However, Vickers believes the royal family may not share his perspective.

“Both the King and William are being very clever by saying almost nothing. They haven’t responded publicly, even after Harry said he wanted to put the past behind him. But there is an enormous amount of history between them that still needs to be worked through,” the biographer said.

According to Vickers, family disagreements should be resolved privately, while public statements only make matters more complicated.

“Even if Harry doesn’t intend to challenge the royal family, his actions will inevitably be perceived that way. And that is unfortunate,” he added.

Royal Visits Without Royal Status

In his GQ interview, Harry described the family rift as a problem many people could relate to and emphasized that he genuinely wanted to reconcile with his father and brother.

“Some people don’t want us to succeed. But I do,” he said.

A spokesperson for the Sussexes later clarified that the remarks were “in no way intended as a dig at his brother or any other member of the family.”

Nevertheless, Vickers believes Harry and Meghan, 45, are making reconciliation more difficult themselves by attending events that resemble official royal engagements. Last week, for example, the couple visited Nottingham together.

Last month, Harry also attended the inaugural Invictus Spirit Awards ceremony in Greenwich, London, wearing his military and royal medals.

“When Harry and Meghan visit Nottingham, or Harry turns up at an event wearing his medals, it looks like a royal visit to the general public. People inevitably wonder why he has been invited. He isn’t just a private individual — he is still Prince Harry,” the biographer explained.

According to Vickers, even informing the King that Harry and Meghan have returned to the UK as private citizens does little to change public perception.

“To the public, Harry is a distraction. His presence creates the impression that he is challenging the monarchy. He has put himself in a very difficult position, and he has no one to blame but himself,” Vickers said.

Why Harry Wants to Return to the UK

The Duke himself explained that one of the factors behind his desire to return was the prospect of giving his children the opportunity to attend school in Britain.

“The opportunity to send my children to a British school means a huge amount to me. I didn’t even realize how important it was to me,” he admitted in his GQ interview.

Harry clarified that he was not criticizing the American education system. In his view, exposure to two different cultures was particularly important for children aged seven and five. He also expressed a desire to spend more time in his homeland and live closer to his family rather than visiting for just a few days at a time.

Vickers acknowledged that wanting to provide his children with a good education was entirely understandable. However, he believes Harry’s numerous public appearances and interviews send mixed messages.

The biographer argued that reconciliation would be a blessing, particularly for Charles III. According to Page Six, the King and his younger son have yet to meet in person since Harry’s return to the UK, although they have spoken on the phone several times.

“It is very difficult for the King to remain estranged from his own son for so long. He already has enough emotional strain to deal with. None of this is doing anyone any good,” Vickers said.

Prince William No Longer Wants Anything to Do With His Brother

According to Vickers, William’s attitude toward Harry may resemble the late Queen Elizabeth II’s stance toward her uncle, the Duke of Windsor, who abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson. Vickers believes Elizabeth II preferred to keep him at a distance.

The biographer does not believe, however, that William is deliberately acting against his brother. The heir to the throne has royal duties to fulfill, his own family to care for and a father to support amid concerns about the King’s health. His wife, Catherine, has also undergone cancer treatment.

According to sources cited by Page Six, William’s anger over his younger brother’s actions has gradually given way to indifference. Those actions include Harry stepping down as a working member of the royal family, publishing his candid memoir and releasing a documentary series on Netflix.

“William wants nothing to do with Harry. Once he makes up his mind about something, he is immovable,” a palace source told the outlet.

Page Six previously reported that Harry and Meghan would not be joining the royal family for Christmas. The decision marks a stark contrast with Christmas 2018, when the couple still celebrated the holiday alongside other members of the monarchy.