A call for reconciliation

Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has said he wants to reconcile with the rest of the royal family, following signs of renewed contact with his father, King Charles III, who has cancer. The remarks come from an interview with GQ magazine recorded in New York in September and published on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. Harry said the wounds would last forever but urged everyone to let go of the past, whatever their view of what happened. He called reconciliation the most important thing given everything happening in the world, and added that some people did not want it to happen while he did. Relations with his brother, Prince William, remain cold, and the two have not met recently.

What he did not say

Harry did not name the people he said were working against reconciliation, and he did not name William in the passage. Some commentators read a pointed tone aimed at royal institutions, which Harry has repeatedly accused of obstructing him, and possibly at his elder brother. A spokesperson for the Sussexes rejected that reading, saying the interview should not be understood as an attack on William or any other member of the royal family. According to the spokesperson, the comments were made in a general context and were not directed at the family in any way. The denial matters because the brothers' relationship has been strained for years.

The return to Britain

Harry and Meghan returned to the UK with their two children, aged seven and five, and accounts differ on the date, with one giving 26 August and another September. The couple made their first joint public appearance since coming back in Nottingham on 15 October, appearing as private citizens but receiving an almost royal welcome. The children are now enrolled in a local school. The interview excerpts were released on the same day King Charles and William, together with their wives Camilla and Kate, hosted the Sultan of Oman during a state visit to London. Harry also said he understood public interest in family disputes, which he said come up often in his conversations with people.

Years of estrangement

Harry and Meghan announced in January 2020 that they would step back from senior royal duties and divide their time between the United Kingdom and the United States. Since then they have made allegations of mistreatment in interviews with Oprah Winfrey, in a Netflix series and in Harry's memoir, which added to the strain. They no longer carry out official duties or attend institutional royal engagements. Despite the uncertainty over a reunion, Harry says he is glad to be back in the country where he grew up.

A friend's doubts

Nick Ede, described as a former friend of Meghan, told the Daily Star that a warm reception did not mean a royal reunion was close. He expected a private reconciliation between Harry and Charles and Camilla to come long before the brothers appeared together again, and he doubted William and Kate would forgive. Harry appeared to disagree, saying what happened back then was behind them and the last six years had been a continuation of it, but he hoped they could all turn the page. He also said he, his family and some British press would like to leave parts of the past behind in order to work toward a greater good.