The Duke and Duchess of Sussex can still be forgiven by the Royal Family following their public attacks, but only if they commit to one crucial condition, a former friend of the Duchess has claimed.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's relationship with the Firm turned sour after their exit, the explosive Netflix docuseries and Harry's memoir, Spare. However, Nick Ede, a brand expert who was friends with Meghan before she married into the Royal Family in 2018, believes the door to reconciliation is not permanently closed.
Private actions required to mend rift
To mend the bitter royal rift, Mr Ede claims the Sussexes must prove their intentions are genuine through private actions, rather than relying on another "carefully choreographed PR exercise". The PR expert noted that while the British public would love to see the family put their differences aside, the couple's previous decision to air their grievances on the world stage means they must now do the exact opposite to earn back trust.
Speaking to Cafe Casino, he explained: "Of course they can be forgiven, but forgiveness and trust are two very different things. The Netflix documentary and Spare exposed deeply personal family matters to millions of people, and that isn't something you simply forget."
Olive branch must avoid media attention
Regarding the one thing the couple must do to secure a royal reunion, Mr Ede stressed that any olive branch must be completely devoid of media attention. "Harry and Meghan have every right to tell their story, but there are consequences when you make private family disputes public," he warned.
"If they genuinely want reconciliation, actions will speak far louder than another interview or public statement." Mr Ede added that a royal truce would send a "powerful message about forgiveness and unity" after a challenging few years for the monarchy.
However, he issued a stern warning about how the Sussexes must approach matters going forward. "This cannot become another carefully choreographed PR exercise," Mr Ede said.
"It needs to happen behind closed doors, away from cameras and headlines. Ultimately, Harry and William are brothers, and it would be incredibly sad if their children grew up as strangers because of a family feud."
