The Duke of Sussex has revealed in an emotional BBC television interview that his father, King Charles III, refuses to speak to him due to ongoing tensions regarding his security arrangements. Harry, 40, spoke candidly about the state of his relationship with his family, particularly his father and brother, Prince William, amid a legal battle over his security while in the UK.
The Duke, who is currently residing in California with his wife Meghan and their children, was clearly emotional during the interview, expressing his longing for reconciliation despite the rift. “This, at the heart of it, is a family dispute,” Harry said. He went on to emphasise the preciousness of life, noting that he did not know how much longer his father had, given his ongoing cancer treatment.
Harry further explained that the King’s refusal to speak to him was primarily linked to the issue of security. He said, “I’ve never asked him to intervene, I’ve asked him to step out of the way and let the experts do their job.” The comment, which seemed to suggest that the King may be hindering rather than helping, is likely to deepen the division between father and son.
The Duke also voiced his hope for eventual forgiveness from his family, acknowledging the role they had played in shaping his public life since his relationship with Meghan began in 2016. “I could forgive my family’s involvement,” Harry stated, referencing Charles, the Prince of Wales, and Camilla, the Queen Consort, who have been central figures in the events surrounding his and Meghan’s departure from royal duties.
Harry’s desire for reconciliation comes amid continued tensions that began with his explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, during which the Sussexes accused a family member of making racist comments regarding the skin tone of their unborn son, Archie. This was followed by Harry’s controversial memoir Spare, in which he claimed that his brother William physically attacked him and that his father was more concerned with his own interests than with Harry’s wellbeing.
The Duke’s relationship with the royal family has been further complicated by his remarks about Camilla, whom he labelled “dangerous” in a series of interviews promoting his book. Harry claimed that Camilla’s willingness to cooperate with the British press made her a threat to the family, suggesting that she was rehabilitating her image at his expense.
In the BBC interview, Harry continued to express his desire for peace but acknowledged that the royal family may never forgive him for writing his book and airing the family’s secrets. “Of course, some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book. Of course, they will never forgive me for lots of things,” he admitted.
Despite this, the Duke remained hopeful, stating, “I would love reconciliation with my family,” adding that he believed there was “no point in continuing to fight anymore.”
The issue of security has been a key point of contention between Harry and the royal family. When Harry and Meghan stepped down as working royals in 2020 and relocated to the US, their security arrangements were significantly reduced. Harry has since lost a legal challenge over the matter, which has further heightened tensions.
The Duke failed in his attempt to overturn a decision made by the Home Office’s Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec), which ruled that he should not receive the same level of protection as other senior members of the royal family.
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Speaking about the 2020 decision, Harry said, “I couldn’t believe it. I actually couldn’t believe it.” He went on to criticise the royal family for what he perceived as a deliberate move to put his family at risk, in an effort to force them to return to the UK. “They hoped that me knowing that risk would force us to come back,” he claimed.
In the interview, Harry also raised concerns about the broader implications of the ruling, suggesting that security could be used as a form of control over family members. “What really worries me more than anything else is that this decision sets a new precedent where security can be used to control members of the family,” he said. “It’s effectively a way to imprison family members from choosing a different life.”
Despite his heartfelt plea for reconciliation, some experts believe the rift between Harry and the royal family may only deepen. Ex-BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, writing for the Daily Express, argued that the King and Prince William may not trust Harry to keep their conversations private. She concluded, “This loudspeaker of a diatribe against them is not going to make them change their minds.”
As Harry navigates his ongoing legal and personal struggles, it remains to be seen whether his hopes for a future reconciliation with his family will be realised, or whether the rift will continue to grow.
