Royal fans have urged Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to stop talking and avoid "no more stupid stuff" to repair relations with King Charles and Prince William, following the Duke of Sussex's interview with men's magazine GQ in which he spoke of his "broken relationship" with his father and brother.
Fans give advice in Windsor
Sandra Williams, who manages jewellery stall Smithsilver at Windsor Central Station, said she hopes the royal rift will end. She added: "Providing they don't do any more stupid stuff and put their foot in it - do things that provoke the situation with Charles and William. I think if they play it coolly and try to make a little headway with them and not push it too far, then hopefully they will. It's detrimental if it carries on like that."
Asked what she thought of Harry telling GQ the most important thing is to reconcile, Sandra said: "Well, he is right, but if hadn't done all this and brought the past up in the first place this would never have happened. He's got to take a bit of the blame for that."
She added that it would be better if the Prince of Wales went on to become king with the rift with Harry over. Sandra concluded: "[Harry] needs to keep his tongue in check, otherwise it's not going to work. It will take a lot for William to trust him again, I think, even more than Charles."
Support from Australian and American fans
Sisters Pauline Essex, Alyson Morrison and Deborah Morrison travelled to the UK from their native Australia. On a day trip to Windsor, the royal fans said they support the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Alyson, 50, said: "I really love Harry and Meghan. I think the way they've been treated is pretty appalling. I understand their choices about wanting to move away from the Royal Family."
On the chances of the Sussexes returning to the royal fold, Deborah, 55, said: "Well we hope they do. Family's family, isn't it?" Pauline, 55, suggested while Brits might give the Sussexes a hard time initially, the public would hopefully forgive and forget. She welcomed Harry's message about reconciliation, saying it sounded like a great thing for the Duke to say at this time in his life.
Susan and Tom McLaughlin from Pennsylvania in the United States were visiting a rainy Eton with their daughter, Ellie, 24, when they shared their opinions of the couple on Wednesday. Tom, 58, said Americans had grown sick of the Sussexes and felt Meghan was "fake". He added: "It's probably good they moved on." Susan, 56, suggested Harry didn't get much attention from US media, adding she believed the Sussexes could find a way back into favour if they spend less time in the spotlight. She added: "It's probably very difficult. Fame has its positives and negatives."
Harry's GQ interview and family tensions
In the GQ interview, Harry is asked whether he grieves the relationship he once had with his family. He said broken relationships and sibling disagreements are a "massively relatable" issue for many people. The Duke added: "Some people don't want it to work out. I want it to work out. With everything else that's going on in the world, the most important thing is to reconcile - that's the key point... Scars stick around forever."
"But what your perception is, and what your mindset is to those things that have happened - letting go of the past - that's something that I would encourage everybody to do." Harry said that for him, there is enough drama in the world and in people's everyday lives to continue with family issues.
A spokesperson for Harry later clarified that his comment about "some people" not wanting to work things out was not intended as a swipe at William or any other member of the Royal Family.
Tensions between Harry and William have persisted for several years, in part because of a series of allegations the Duke and Duchess levelled against the Windsors after they stepped back from royal duties. Harry and Charles, however, have taken steps to mend relations.
The Duke's GQ interview came about two months after the Sussexes' U-turn on their decision to leave the UK in 2020. The couple and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, are believed to be living somewhere in the Cotswolds. Their return is for an extended period but not permanent and they are not returning to royal duties. Since returning to Britain, Harry and Meghan have to date made just one joint public appearance, visiting Nottingham on a trip which had echoes of an official royal engagement.
