Prince Harry has faced criticism over his recent comments about reuniting with his father and brother after years of estrangement. The Duke of Sussex broke his silence on reconciliation with King Charles and Prince William in an interview with GQ this week, saying he wants his disagreements with them to "work out".
Asked whether he grieves the "complicated" relationship with his family, he cryptically suggested, "some people don't want it to work out".
Royal commentator hits out
Royal commentator and biographer Angela Levin criticised the duke following the article's release, suggesting the "disgusting" accusations he levelled at his father, brother and sister-in-law in his memoir were to blame for the rift.
"You jointly with Meghan tried to make their life difficult," Ms Levin wrote on X. "That's [why] they want to keep away and quite right too. You haven't even apologised."
A Sussex spokesperson said Harry's comments on not wanting others to work things out were "absolutely not intended as a swipe at his brother or any other member of his family".
Harry on healing the wound
Pressed by the magazine on if he thinks he could repair "this wound", Harry said: "Yeah of course, I think every wound... look, scars stick around forever but... what your perception is and what your mindset is to these things that have happened, certainly letting go of the past, that's something that I would encourage everybody to do."
The Duke of Sussex, who moved back to Britain after six years in the US this summer, was also quizzed on the reasons behind his return. He cited "opportunities for the family", including "being able to put the kids in a British school".
"I didn't know how important it was to me, I always thought it was going to be something I would try and do or that we would try and do, but now they've been in school for two weeks they're loving it and it's just giving them a whole different experience," he added.
State visit overshadowed
His comments were published as Charles, the Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales welcomed the Sultan of Oman to Windsor for his state visit to the UK. It marked the first incoming state visit since Harry and Meghan returned to the UK, but the couple, who are not working royals, do not take part in official royal engagements.
The important visit, cementing ties between two military allies, was largely overshadowed by Harry's GQ interview, where he also spoke about the health of his father, who has cancer. Questioned on if having a sick parent was triggering after the traumatic death of his mother, the duke said: "Yes but, you know, he's getting better."
It comes after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex carried out their first joint engagements since returning to the UK, with a run of three quasi-royal appearances in Nottingham last week. The trip bore all the hallmarks of an official royal engagement, despite a letter from the King clarifying that the couple remain "private citizens" last month.
