Prince Harry has been issued a stern warning that the rest of the Royal Family remains united despite the Sussexes’ ongoing public criticisms. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have frequently spoken out against other royals in interviews and through Harry’s explosive memoir, “Spare.” This has led to significant tension, particularly with King Charles and Prince William. According to royal sources, William no longer feels he can trust his brother.
Following the announcement of King Charles’ cancer diagnosis, Harry made a brief visit to the UK but only met with his father briefly. During his return from the Invictus Games event, he did not see Charles or William. The Royal Family has faced several health crises this year, with Princess Kate, the King, and Sarah Ferguson all undergoing cancer treatments. Despite these challenges, the family has put on a united front, particularly at public events like Trooping the Colour.
Russell Myers, the royal editor for The Mirror, emphasized that if Harry and Meghan wish to maintain any relationship with the Royal Family, they need to change their approach. Speaking to Sky News Australia, Myers stated, “They’re going to [have to] sort of realize, if they’re going to have a relationship with the rest of the Royal Family, they can’t go about trashing them. They can’t go about making money off their associations with the Royal Family.”
Polls indicate that Harry and Meghan remain among the least popular royals in the UK. Harry ranks as the tenth most popular royal with a 34 percent approval rating, just below Queen Camilla. Meghan’s popularity stands at 26 percent, placing her second to last, above only Prince Andrew, who has a mere nine percent approval rating.
The Sussexes have retained their royal titles despite stepping down from royal duties in 2020. Since then, they have signed deals for various projects, including their tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, a Netflix documentary series, and Harry’s memoir. These projects have further strained their relationship with the Royal Family.
Myers noted that the Royal Family is very much “united without them” and that if Harry and Meghan hope to reconcile, they need to change their public behavior. “Hopefully, they’ll see that the Royal Family are very united without them, and if they do want a relationship, going forward, they need to take the steam out of their relationship and out of the things they say sometimes,” he added.
King Charles reportedly asked Harry directly to stop leaking personal details about the family. Since relocating to the US, the Sussexes have continued to conduct themselves as if they were still active members of the Royal Family, leveraging their royal connections in business ventures and media projects.
The tension between the Sussexes and the rest of the Royal Family was highlighted by their absence from this year’s Trooping the Colour ceremony, a significant event celebrating King Charles III’s birthday. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams suggested that Harry likely felt regret over missing the event. “I think, when it comes to military matters, Harry has always taken an interest,” Fitzwilliams told The Sun. “We know they wanted an apology from the Royal Family for the way they were treated when they were senior working members of it. They certainly won’t get that. But I do think there will be a certain amount of regret.”
Fitzwilliams also noted that Meghan might not be as concerned about missing such events. “I think Meghan would be indifferent to a ceremony like Trooping the Colour quite frankly,” he said. “If it had done, she would have managed to carve a position within the Royal Family where she could have been of use.”
The Royal Family’s unity and the Sussexes’ ongoing public disputes have underscored the significant challenges facing any potential reconciliation. As Harry and Meghan navigate their roles outside the Royal Family, their approach and actions will be pivotal in determining the future of their relationship with their royal relatives..