Hilary Fordwich, a British royals expert, has reported that Prince William has implemented a complete prohibition on Prince Harry’s possible return to the royal family. According to Fordwich’s conversation with Fox News Digital, Prince William, now viewed as the royal family’s “enforcer,” is steadfast in his stance regarding his brother’s ongoing disagreements with the family.
Fordwich stated, “It is well understood among the family members that Prince William has firmly prohibited Harry from rejoining the royal fold in any capacity.” It seems that William is following a strict approach similar to their grandfather, Prince Philip, determined to shield the monarchy from further turmoil caused by his brother’s actions.
In 2020, Prince Harry and his spouse, Meghan Markle, relocated to California, citing insurmountable invasions of privacy and racist attitudes from the British press as their reason for stepping down from royal duties. Since their exit, Prince Harry has candidly discussed his fraught relationship with his family in multiple interviews, a Netflix documentary, and his memoir “Spare,” which has further strained his relationship with the royal family.
While King Charles III might be more inclined to reconcile with his younger son, Prince William’s opposition remains firm, according to Fordwich. “If anyone will relent, it would be King Charles III, whom Prince William won’t challenge, who still misses his ‘darling boy’ and would like to see more of Prince Harry,” she said. However, she stressed that Prince William is “the most unlikely royal to ever forgive Harry for all his despicable indiscretions.”
Grant Harrold, King Charles’ previous royal butler, suggested to the New York Post that a public apology from Prince Harry might be the only solution to repair the broken relationship. “The only way I see this happening is a public statement from Harry, where you come out and say that you were in a bad space and that [his memoir ‘Spare’] was a mistake,” Harrold stated. However, he doubted the possibility of such an apology, considering the severe damage to the family ties.
Harrold added, “Some bad things were said, and some families never patch things up, and that’s how it is… Harry has a big heart, and part of him probably wishes things would be different.”
British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told the media that the possibility of Prince Harry’s return to royal life is complicated by his previous disclosures and public criticisms. “Prince William views his brother’s behavior as unforgivable. He is adamant that he will protect his family and the monarchy from further upset. Prince Harry has crossed the trust line,” she said.
According to Chard, Prince Harry’s actions caused profound distress to the late Queen Elizabeth II, further strengthening Prince William’s position. “For damage limitation and to prevent betrayal and trauma, he has cut communication with Prince Harry,” Chard commented.
Royal experts believe the chance of reconciliation remains thin, with the fear of further revelations, especially another book, looming large in the minds of the senior royals. Ian Pelham Turner, a royal affairs specialist, mentions that the potential of a second “Spare” book is a major concern. This concern is particularly resonant with King Charles and Prince William, who fear potential new damaging disclosures and a focus on the brothers’ strained relationship.
Turner proposed that a legal peace treaty might be a possible solution, where Prince Harry and Meghan agree not to disclose more royal secrets. In exchange, the royal family could publicly express respect to the couple, which has been lacking. “This would be a significant step towards rebuilding trust and relationships,” Turner noted.
Despite the ongoing tensions, there seems to be a glimmer of hope for the future. Chard observed, “Prince Harry may be welcomed back into the royal fold in the future if he is genuinely sorry for the hurt his actions have caused, and he works on rebuilding the trust he has lost.”
The future of Prince Harry’s relationship with his family depends on many elements, including public apologies, private reconciliations, and an overarching necessity to shield the monarchy from further damage.
