A Daily Mail psychiatrist columnist, writing after news broke that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex plan to move back to Britain with their children, warns that physical proximity often forces estranged families to confront rifts they have long avoided, rather than automatically producing reconciliation. Drawing on clinical experience, the writer argues that distance allows both sides to maintain their own version of events, whereas living nearby brings shared occasions such as birthdays and Christmases that make continued estrangement harder to sustain, for better or worse.

The piece uses the biblical parable of the prodigal son as a framework for the Sussexes' return, noting that King Charles has reportedly welcomed the prospect of seeing more of Harry and his grandchildren despite the hurt caused, including during Catherine's illness and his own cancer treatment. It highlights the often-overlooked elder brother in the parable, whose resentment at his sibling's rapturous welcome is presented as understandable, drawing a parallel with Prince William, and stresses that the parable's turning point is the younger son apologising before reconciliation is celebrated, framing this as the key step Harry must take with William.