Prince Harry’s estrangement from the royal family dates back to 2020, when he and Meghan Markle stepped down as senior royals and relocated to the United States. (Image Source: X)
Prince Harry has been advised to set aside pride and adopt a reconciliatory approach if he hopes to repair his fractured relationships with King Charles III and Prince William. Speaking in a new Channel 5 documentary, Prince Harry: My Terrible Year, psychotherapist Emma Reed Turrell stressed that any reconciliation would require “accountability from all parties” and a willingness to prioritize connection over conflict.
Prince Harry’s estrangement from the royal family dates back to 2020, when he and Meghan Markle stepped down as senior royals and relocated to the United States. Since then, tensions have simmered, fueled by high-profile interviews, media revelations, and disagreements over security arrangements.
In a BBC interview earlier this year, Harry admitted to “many disagreements” with his family but said he had “forgiven” them. “I would love to reconcile,” he stated, adding that ongoing fights were “pointless” because “life is precious.”
In the documentary, Turrell acknowledged that reconciliation between Harry and King Charles was “absolutely possible” but hinged on a mutual willingness to engage with humility.
“He needs to stick a pin in his ego,” Turrell said, urging Harry to focus on being in a relationship rather than being in the right. She emphasized that “forgiveness on both sides” would be essential for progress.
Additionally, Turrell cautioned that any "annus horribilis" might cause lifelong harm and advised Harry to take intentional steps to restore damaged trust as well as to exercise self-care and compassion.
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The documentary followed Harry's symbolic voyage to Angola, where he walked the iconic minefield walk that Princess Diana took. Some saw this as an attempt to appease the royal family.
Historian Tessa Dunlop commented that public interest in Harry remains strong. “If one thing is worse than writing and talking about the Duke of Sussex, it’s him going silent,” she said. “Maybe he can find a new mission.”
Ailsa Anderson, former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, adopted a cautious stance. She described Harry’s candid interviews as “too impulsive” and expressed unease about his openness regarding King Charles’ health and internal family disputes.
“The royal family has a fantastic team of advisers and diplomats, exactly what Harry would have used,” Anderson said. “If they were to welcome him back, there’s the fear that private information would then be leaked. If you can’t trust your family, who can you trust?”
According to reports, Prince Harry and aides to King Charles recently held an important meeting. Harry has also reached out to Prince William, offering to share scheduling information with Kensington Palace.
While modest, these steps indicate that the door to reconciliation is still open, provided both sides are willing to engage in constructive dialogue.
