A wish to mend family ties
Speaking to GQ in New York, the Duke of Sussex said he hopes to repair the difficult relationships he has with his father and his brother. He described reconciliation as the central objective, arguing that it outweighs the other developments unfolding around the world, and he acknowledged that not everyone shares his wish for a resolution.[S1][S2][S3][S4][S5][S6][S7][S8]
Harry also spoke about the lasting effect of past hurts, saying such wounds do not fade, but that he believes people can choose how they view what has happened and can release themselves from it. He said he would urge anyone to take that step.[S1]
A spokesman for Harry and Meghan said the conversation had been taped in late September, that the publishers alone chose when to release it, and that readers should not read anything into the timing. The spokesman further stated that the remark about some people not wanting a resolution was not aimed at Prince William or at any other relative.[S1]
A move back to Britain and a family's new routine
Harry and Meghan left Britain for the United States in 2020, giving up their roles as working royals in a departure marked by bitterness. Harry's memoir, Spare, laid out how deep the family breach had become and how badly his bond with William had suffered.[S1]
Although Harry now lives physically closer to his relatives in Britain, the interview suggests no greater emotional warmth with William, even as Harry presents himself as willing to reconcile. He noted that the public remains gripped by the royal family's quarrels, describing the subject as hugely relatable.[S1]
He said he keeps encountering the same themes when talking to people: disputes between siblings, and ruptured ties between children and their parents, or between children and one parent. Asked why he returned to Britain, he cited opportunities for his family, saying that enrolling his children in a British school had come to mean a great deal to him, more than he had expected.[S1]
Archie and Lilibet, he said, are enjoying the change and gaining an experience unlike what they had before. He also described the value of being back nearer his relatives and spending longer stretches on British soil than the few days or a week he had previously managed.[S1]
His father's health and his mother's memory
Reflecting on the King's condition after treatment for cancer, Harry said his father is improving. He also discussed what it was like to grow up carrying a sense of loss following the death of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997.[S1]
Harry said he values being able to keep his mother's memory alive through his work, rather than letting it weigh him down, hold him back or leave him mired in grief. He made clear he is not seeking public pity, pointing out that he is a prince, has people around him for support, has tried various kinds of therapy and has done the work, and wondering what his situation would look like had he not.[S1]
