Prince Harry says family reconciliation matters despite lasting rift with William and Charles
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
New remarks from Prince Harry have renewed attention on the prospect of reconciliation with his family: he says he wants to repair the rift, while adding that “some people don’t want it to work out”. The comment may be read as a swipe at Prince William, with whom Harry has not spoken for four years.
Harry said his return to the UK had brought the family tensions back into focus and that he grieves his fractured relationships with William and King Charles. He is on speaking terms with the King, but the article says they have not met since Harry moved back to Britain. In an interview about grief and mental health, Harry urged people to let go of past grievances and said he has used therapy and support to work through difficulties.
- Harry says he wants to reconcile with his family.
- He says he is grieving strained ties with William and Charles.
- He urged families to move past old grievances.
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Prince Harry is the younger son of King Charles III and the late Princess Diana. He and his wife, Meghan, stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and moved to the United States, after which tensions within the family became public.
Prince William, Harry’s older brother, is heir to the throne. The brothers’ strained relationship sits alongside Harry’s more limited contact with Charles, who became king in 2022. Their family ties matter because the monarchy is a public institution, and disagreements among its senior members can attract attention in Britain and abroad.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Harry’s remarks can be seen as a sincere effort to reopen communication and acknowledge the pain caused by family estrangement. Speaking publicly about grief, therapy and letting go of past grievances may help make reconciliation possible while encouraging others to seek support.
The case against
A cautious view is that reconciliation requires trust and privacy as well as expressions of goodwill, and public comments can make that harder if relatives feel criticised or pressured. Harry’s suggestion that some people do not want matters to improve may be understood as assigning blame, even if he intends to describe his own sense of the rift.
Full account
Prince Harry has said he wants to repair his relationships with King Charles and Prince William, despite what he described as a lasting family rift. In an interview with GQ, he said reconciliation mattered amid wider troubles: “Some people don’t want it to work out. I want it to work out.” The remark could be read as implying that others are less willing to make peace, though he did not name anyone.
Harry said the estrangement had caused him grief and that the return to Britain had brought the family difficulties into sharper focus. He described the relationships as complicated and said “scars stick around forever”, while encouraging people to reconsider how they carry past grievances. He also spoke about looking back on his own upbringing as a father of two, and about deciding what to pass on to his children.
The Duke said his attitude towards Britain had changed since he and Meghan left in 2020. He suggested that speaking publicly about his experiences had helped make the environment easier, while acknowledging it might not stop the behaviour he has criticised. He said there were aspects of the past that he, his family and parts of the British press might wish to leave behind and move on from for the greater good.
Harry also addressed criticism of his decision to tell his story, saying others had been able to give their versions and that he should be able to offer his own. The interview ranged beyond family relations to mental health and the loss of his mother. He said he did not want sympathy on account of being a prince.
Where outlets differ
The first report foregrounds the apparent implication that William may not want reconciliation and places the interview against the backdrop of the royal family attending a state visit in Windsor. It also says Harry has not spoken to William for four years and has not seen the King since returning to Britain, while remaining on speaking terms with him.
The second report emphasises Harry’s advice about letting go of past grievances and his changed attitude towards Britain, including his comments about the press. It describes the interview as his first major one since the family’s return and includes his response to criticism of his memoir and public account. The first report is truncated during its discussion of his views on sympathy, so it does not provide the same detail on that response.
More coverage
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Prince Harry says he ‘wants it to work out’ with his family… but takes a jab at those who ‘don’t want to’”.