Prince Harry's expressed desire for reconciliation with the royal family has been described as a "challenge" rather than an olive branch. The 42-year-old used his GQ interview to issue a plea for reconciliation with his father, King Charles, and brother, Prince William, describing his grief over the estrangement.
Harry's Public Plea for Reconciliation
The royal spoke out Tuesday about his return to the UK with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. He told the publication: "With everything else that's going on in the world, the most important thing is to reconcile. That's the key point."
Speaking to Page Six, royal expert Hugo Vickers said: "Both the King and William have been very clever to say very little. They have not responded publicly, even when Prince Harry said that he wanted to put the past behind them. There is a hell of a lot of past to put behind them."
Expert Warns of Unintended Interpretation
Vickers added: "These things should be worked out in private. Making public appearances and giving interviews does not make the situation any easier," adding, "And even if Harry does not intend his actions to be a challenge, they will inevitably be interpreted that way, and that is unfortunate."
Harry was then asked about his "complicated relationship" with William and the King. He stressed that family rifts are a "massively relatable issue for so many people," even adding, "And some people don't want it to work out. I want it to work out."
Spokesperson Clarifies Intent
A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was forced to confirm that Harry's comment was not made as a swipe at his brother. They said it "was absolutely not intended as a swipe at his brother or any other member of his family".
Harry and Meghan are now thought to be living in the Cotswolds with their children. Meghan has previously shared snippets of their new life in the UK, with Archie and Lilibet, now aged seven and five, frequently featuring.
First Joint Appearance in Nottingham
Meghan and Harry stepped out for their first joint appearance since their return last week. The couple attended three separate engagements in Nottingham, the city they first visited after announcing their engagement in 2017.
As the couple made their way to their first visit of the day, the city's Community Recording Studio (CRS), between 150 and 200 people arrived to warmly welcome them. The couple then moved into their second visit: the Himmah Hub, a community action group addressing food poverty in Nottingham. They finally made their way to Epic Partners, their last stop of the day.
It remains unknown when the couple will step out for their next engagement together. It has been reported that, prior to her appearance in Nottingham, Meghan had been focusing on settling their children into their new life.
