A public plea from California
In an interview with GQ published this week, the Duke of Sussex explained that his decision to return to Britain with his wife Meghan Markle and their children Lilibet and Archie was partly motivated by a wish to be nearer his relatives and to sort out the difficulties behind the family rift. He described wanting the situation to be resolved, while acknowledging that some people are not seeking that outcome.[S1]
Harry also reflected on how long-lasting such wounds can be, saying that old hurts persist but that he would urge people to move past them. He noted that when past events continue to affect daily life, letting go becomes more difficult. Asked whether he was mourning the relationships he once had with his father and his brother, he agreed, framing the situation as one many families would recognize.[S1]
He went on to describe the ordinary texture of family conflict, mentioning disagreements between siblings and ruptures between children and parents, and said people he speaks with raise the same theme repeatedly. A spokesperson for the Sussexes said the magazine chose to publish the interview, which was conducted in September, on Tuesday, and that his remarks were not aimed at his brother or anyone else in the family, having been made in a general context.[S1]
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William's reported position
Sources close to the Prince of Wales told the Mirror that he sees no future scenario in which he would reconcile with his brother, and that he has no intention of engaging with him. One source said the heir remains deeply hurt by the many public statements the Duke of Sussex has made about him and other members of the family.[S1][S2][S3][S4][S5][S6][S8]
The Mirror also noted the timing of the GQ interview's release, reporting that the Prince of Wales was occupied with royal duties that took priority over the estrangement. During the same period the King and Queen received the Sultan of Oman on a state visit, and William traveled to Wales with his father to mark the 60th anniversary of the Aberfan tragedy.[S1]
Years of distance
The brothers have been apart since the Duke of Sussex stepped back from his role as a working royal and settled in California with his wife in 2020. In his memoir Spare, Harry asserted that William had knocked him to the ground and into a dog bowl during an argument about Meghan's alleged behavior. Harry has nonetheless stayed in contact with the King, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2024.[S1]
