Finally, Prince Harry has long laid bare his profound grievances over continued alienation from the royal family. Now he feels like reconciliation is farther away than it’s ever been. In a series of recent appearances, the Duke of Sussex, 40, revealed that his potential family reconciliation has reached an impasse. He says this impasse is a result of unfinished security matters that have stretched on for half a decade.
The expression of the prince underscored that today’s conflicts are stoked by concerns regarding human existence and security. He said that these concerns have become the “only thing that’s left” to prioritize. After announcing his and the Duchess of Sussex’s withdrawal from royal duties in 2020, those changes have been significant for the couple’s security during visits to the United Kingdom. These changes acknowledge their new circumstance and priorities.
Harry argues that these changes have ensured it’s “impossible” for him to return safely to the UK with his wife, Meghan Markle. And so, he doesn’t feel like he can return their kids home, either. He expressed his disappointment regarding the lack of communication with his father, King Charles III, stating that his father “won’t speak to me because of this security stuff.”
Harry wanted to make it clear that he has no intention of suing anybody else over his security detail. He said that Friday’s court ruling had proved the hopelessness of trying to find a resolution through the court system.
“I discovered that some people want history to repeat itself, which is pretty dark.” – Prince Harry
The prince indicated that he feels trapped by the current state of affairs, fearing it sets a precedent wherein security can be manipulated to control royal family members. He remarked that such control effectively “imprisons other members of the family from being able to choose a different life.”
Harry opened up about his decision to step back from royal duties. He said, “At the end of the day, I had to,” referring to the need for prioritization. He admitted that some relatives will never forgive him for his public actions, such as the publication of a tell-all book. Even so, he still desires restoration with them.
Harry’s candid confession, that he misses some elements of life in the UK. The one thing he is sure of is that he can only go back safely if he is welcomed. He lamented in fiery terms about his lack of security and very serious security concerns. Including his call for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to intervene, considered extremely rare, and a sign that these crises started under a previous government.
“I would ask the prime minister to step in.” – Prince Harry
This ambivalent picture cast by Harry’s remarks points to a fraught attachment to the world of royalty. He stated, “There have been so many disagreements, differences between me and some of my family,” indicating that the divisions run deep. The prince similarly emphasized the fragility of life, saying he was unsure how many years his father would still be alive.
“Life is precious. I don’t know how much longer my father has, you know.” – Prince Harry
Harry refuses to be downcast, and continues to believe that a path to reconciliation exists. He pointed out that he would not be opposed to any efforts by relatives to restore their bonds. He noted how his father’s role as a political appointee still afforded great control over his future.
“Whether I have an official role or not is irrelevant to the threats, risk and impact on the reputation of the UK if something was to happen.” – Prince Harry