Prince Harry is reportedly focused on building a successful life in the US but may only consider returning as a working royal under one specific condition.
Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, has allegedly no plans to return to the royal family without an apology from his brother, Prince William.
Harry stands by his choice to step away from royal duties, expressing satisfaction with his decision. Despite his firm stance, Harry is said to be open to a temporary role within the royal family if King Charles III requests him to.
However, friends reportedly noted to The Mirror that he is well aware of William’s attitude towards him. The brothers have reportedly not spoken for months and remain distant. They even avoided contact during their uncle Lord Fellowes’ funeral in Norfolk last month, despite being in the same room.
Furthermore, reports surfaced that the Prince of Wales believes there’s zero chance of reconciliation after his brother released his memoir “Spare.”
However, Harry appears to be moving forward without seeking his brother’s approval. According to The Mirror, he has reconnected with former trusted advisors and old friends to create a plan for potentially reintegrating into UK social circles in the future.
Nevertheless, sources close to Prince Harry reportedly suggest that any recent communication with former aides is more about seeking strategic or friendly advice rather than a plan to rejoin the royal fold.
While returning isn’t his current focus, it’s understood that Harry is open to helping if needed. This assistance would come in handy given the recent challenges faced by Charles and Prince William during their extended breaks for cancer treatment.
According to The Mirror, Harry is keen on strengthening his relationship with Charles, especially given the King’s recent health challenges. However, the 39-year-old would still seek an apology from his brother before agreeing to represent the royal family in any capacity.
In previous interviews, Harry hinted that there were events between him and his brother that were left out of his memoir.
When asked why those details weren’t shared, he suggested that he consciously chose to omit certain incidents, knowing any revelations about family members would invite criticism.
Others, particularly those involving his brother and father, would cause irreparable harm and lead to unforgivable consequences
Despite this, he acknowledged that his family played an essential role in his story, making it difficult to exclude them entirely.
Some of the details about his family were included so they could provide insight into the characters and personalities involved in Harry’s life. Still, he acknowledged that even the contents he did include might already be difficult for his family to forgive.
The Duke of Sussex also declared, “But the way I see it is, I’m willing to forgive you for everything you’ve done, and I wish you’d actually sat down with me, properly, and instead of saying I’m delusional and paranoid.
He also emphasized the need for an honest talk, “Actually sit down and have a proper conversation about this, because what I’d really like is some accountability. And an apology to my wife.”
Despite not being on good terms with his brother, Harry still shows up for crucial family events. As we previously reported, on August 29, 2024, he made a covert return to the UK to attend the funeral of his late mother’s brother-in-law.
Joining him at the memorial service was his older brother, William, who also made a discreet attendance. While most netizens are happy to learn that the brothers reunited, some think William should be wary of trusting his younger brother again.
While the two princes were both there to bid farewell to their late uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes, who passed away at 82 in July, a local source confirmed that they did not see the brothers exchange words.
“William and Harry were both there but we never saw them speak to each other and they were keeping their distance,” disclosed the source.
William and Harry were said to have been seated away from each other toward the back of St Mary’s Church in Snettisham, Norfolk.
Interestingly, while a source, deemed a close family friend, confirmed that both princes were in attendance, another source stated that they didn’t see Harry or William until the end of the service.
“I didn’t know they were there. They arrived very discreetly,” divulged the source. Nonetheless, when the public heard about the princes being in the same room together, they flooded social media with comments.
Some were delighted to hear the news, given the fact that the last time the brothers were reported to be in the same room was at their father’s coronation, which took place over a year ago. “So happy for them 🙏🏼🙏🏼,” swooned a fan.“Good for you Harry,” praised an admirer.
Similarly, another echoed, “If that is true, [I’m] so glad [and] happy for the brothers blood is thicker than [water] [bless] them both.”
Echoing a similar sentiment, someone else penned, “I hope this funeral helps them realize how important family is and how quickly the time can come when reuniting just becomes a regret of what could have been… 😢😔.”
Bringing William’s wife, Princess Catherine, and the late Princess Diana into the mix, a Facebooker asserted, “It’s time William and Kate just tried a little harder to be nicer to Harry. They were always so close and I know Diana would want them to remain close forever. X.”
Other comments include, “Private plane then,” and a social media user wondering, “How come he was allowed to go????”
Amid the praise and urges for the brothers to make amends, some netizens feel that Harry cannot be trusted. “Watch your back [Prince] William,” warned someone on Facebook while another noted, “William is smarter than that. Harry cannot be trusted.”
By now, it’s no secret that William and Harry have not seen eye to eye for some time. Several outlets have reported stories discussing how fraught their relationship is with drama, tension, and wounds from the past and present.
Adding further insult to injury is the fact that not only does Harry have problems with his brother, but he also has qualms with other senior members of the royal family, particularly where his father is concerned.
In July, a media outlet reported that Charles does not answer calls nor respond to letters from his estranged youngest son.
Similarly, when it comes to the attempts Harry has made to patch things up with William, those efforts, too, are made in vain. Apart from Charles’s coronation where Harry, reportedly, sat two rows behind his brother and family, the last time the brothers were seen putting up a united front was back in September 2022.
At this time, they were joined by their wives to meet mourners standing outside Windsor Castle after Queen Elizabeth II passed away.
Reports trace the start of the brothers’ rift back to 2016 when William addressed concerns he had about how fast his younger brother’s relationship with Meghan Markle was moving.
Harry added further fuel to the fire with the release of “Spare,” in which he made shocking revelations about his family, including his referral to his older brother as his “arch nemesis.” Harry also disclosed the verbal and physical altercations that the two of them faced.
By the time 2020 rolled around, tensions were at an all-time high when Harry and Meghan chose to forgo their royal roles and forge a life for themselves in the United States.
Somewhere down the line, after Queen Elizabeth II had died, Harry was informed that the security he was provided with to protect him and his family would be withdrawn. This decision was set despite communication from the late queen that Harry and Meghan needed to have security.
Fast-forward to February of this year (2024), and more royal family drama unfolded. When Harry arrived in London from the US to visit his ailing father after Charles’s cancer diagnosis was revealed, their encounter was said to be extremely brief because the King had plans to rest and recuperate in Norfolk.
Harry was also said to have stayed at a hotel instead of with his family when he was in London before he flew back home to Los Angeles.
When the Duke of Sussex returned to the UK in May for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, he did not meet with his father or his brother. Although an insider claimed that while the rift between the brothers is dismal, it is not “irreparable.”
Now that they have been reported to at least be cordial enough to be in the same room again, perhaps there is hope that William and Harry will come to a resolution.