Summary
- Prince Harry says King Charles is unwilling to communicate with him.
- He believes reconciling with his family would be meaningful and valuable.
- Harry recently lost a court case over security, which has caused him distress.
Britain’s Prince Harry has shared that his father, King Charles, “won’t speak” to him, making it hard for him to envision bringing his family back to the UK—especially after recently losing a court case concerning his security arrangements. Speaking in an interview with the BBC, the Duke of Sussex expressed his desire to heal the rift with his family, which he says largely stemmed from disagreements over his security.
“There have been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family,” he acknowledged, though he emphasized that he has now “forgiven” them. He added, “I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point continuing to fight any more—life is precious.”
Prince Harry said the long-standing dispute over security had been the main barrier to rebuilding those relationships. “He won’t speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile,” he said, adding, “I don’t know how much longer my father has.”
The tension stems from the UK government’s 2020 decision to downgrade Harry’s security after he and Meghan stepped back from royal duties. That policy was upheld in a court ruling on Friday, marking a significant blow to the Duke’s legal efforts.
Prince Harry has expressed deep frustration over his recent court defeat regarding his security arrangements, describing the outcome as a “good old-fashioned establishment stitch-up.” He said he felt “let down” and accused the Royal Household of influencing the decision to reduce his protection.
Reacting to the court ruling, Harry said, “I’m devastated—not so much by the loss itself, but by the people behind the decision, feeling as though this is okay.” He emphasized that the removal of his security entitlement affects him “every single day,” and has created a situation where he can only safely return to the UK if formally invited by the Royal Family, which would ensure adequate protection.
“I can’t see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point,” Harry told the BBC, underscoring how the court’s decision has further strained his connection to his homeland.
In response to Prince Harry’s interview, Buckingham Palace issued a rare statement, asserting that the matter had already been thoroughly addressed. “All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion,” the Palace told the media.
Meanwhile, the legal team behind the court ruling defended the decision, arguing that it would be inappropriate for Prince Harry to receive publicly funded security after stepping back from his royal duties.
Since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle relocated to Los Angeles in 2020, Meghan and their children, Archie and Lilibet, have not returned to the UK.
