It’s been a tumultuous few years for the Royal Family, with The Firm rocked by illness, death, and Harry and Meghan’s decision to ‘step back’. As the couple’s rift with the family rumbles on, we want to know – do you think it will ever heal?
King Charles would reportedly be open to a royal reunion with Prince Harry on the condition that the Duke of Sussex tones down his public criticism of the family – and we want to hear your thoughts on a possible reconciliation.
Since announcing that they would ‘step back from Royal duties’ in 2020, the Sussexes have made it very clear that a rift between them and the rest of the Firm – has been ever-growing and ever-present. However, it has recently emerged that Meredith Maines, Harry’s chief communications officer, and Liam Maguire, who runs Harry and Meghan’s UK public relations team, met the King’s communications secretary Tobyn Andreae at the Royal Over-Seas League in London last week.
Now, sources have told the Mirror that the King would welcome a reunion with his youngest son, provided that he stops the “endless” interviews and scales back on Royal Family criticism. Royal expert and historian Dr Tessa Dunlop said Meghan’s influence could have prompted Harry to take action when it comes to healing the rift with his family.
She said: “Love her or loathe her, Meghan has found her happy place and it has nothing to do with the Royal Family. And before any bilious naysayers butt in, this is good news for a future rapprochement between Harry and the King. The two men have a chance to work things through. And surely everybody wants that?
“That leaves only one option – reconciliation. The big question is when? And courtesy of a meeting between the two royal camps on a prominent London balcony, it looks like that ‘when’ will be sooner rather than later.”
The expert said Meghan’s “product-cum-life style influencer” focus has left Harry in a space to “explore and repair the sorry state of relations with his father.” It comes after the Prince was yet again not granted his request for armed police protection while in the UK, which is given to his father King Charles and wife Queen Camilla, as well as to Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales.
This court case involved Prince Harry attempting to reverse the decision to have security downgraded since he stepped back from being an ‘active’ royal. Harry has on many occasions expressed his safety concerns about his family, and has made it clear that this is the reason why he does not travel to the UK with his wife and two children.
Not long after the Court of Appeal gave their judgment that Prince Harry would not be granted taxpayer-funded, armed police protection when visiting the UK, he gave a 30-minute interview with the BBC which reportedly angered many members of his family. During this interview, Prince Harry described the judgment as ‘devastating’, and said that his father King Charles ‘refuses to speak with him’. He also added that he ‘doesn’t know how much longer’ the King has [to live].
He explained: “Of course, some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book. Of course, they will never forgive me for lots of things. But you know, I would love reconciliation with my family. I’ve always, there’s no point in continuing to fight anymore.”
The Prince added that ‘it would be nice to reconcile’, because ‘life is precious’. After the bombshell interview, Buckingham Palace responded, saying they had ‘repeatedly and meticulously’ examined issues with Prince Harry’s security arrangements. They said: “All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion.”
During the BBC interview, Prince Harry told the BBC that he hadn’t asked his father, King Charles, to intervene in the decision, saying he had instead asked him to “step out”.
As for other reactions to the interview, sources have said that Prince William has ‘no incentive’ to speak to Harry, citing ‘a major trust issue’. As speculation grows around a possible reconciliation, we want to know if you think Harry and the rest of the Royal Family will ever heal their rift? Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.
The Mirror will also be discussing the topic with you in the comments section below and you can join in! All you have to do is sign up, submit your comment, register your details and then you can take part.
READ MORE: ‘Brilliant’ waterfall feature that ‘looks great’ in outdoor pools and ponds has 25% off
