Just whether the fractured relations between Prince Harry and his family can ever be adequately repaired is a matter up for debate.
The Duke of Sussex and his wife, Meghan Markle, have made it clear beyond all doubt that they have grievances relating to how they were treated when they lived in the UK. Some believe they went too far in their airing of said grievances, having spoken out against the Royal Family via their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey, their in-depth Netflix documentary, and most recently Harry’s tell-all memoir, Spare.
It wasn’t all that long ago that the idea of any sort of peace treaty being forged would have been absurd. Harry and Meghan are living a new, post-royal life in the US, and the royals, put plainly, are happy to leave them to it.
Yet the times, as they say, are a changin’.
With King Charles and Kate Middleton both having been diagnosed with undisclosed forms of cancer earlier this year, the Royal Family has been thrust into a sort of semi-crisis. There’s no potentially monarchy-ending scandal at hand, but the future is, shall we say, looking a little less sure and certain than it did a year ago.
Yet it’s often in times of trouble and strife that the landscapes of friend and foe can shift. Harry has already returned to the UK to speak directly with his father this year, and though their meeting was far too brief to have dampened any of the damage done over the last two years, rumors insist that both Charles and Harry are now open to healing the rifts.
Harry, remember, is set to return to his homeland again next month to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, and certain reports have insisted that he might seek to extend an olive branch to the likes of Charles and William then.
This notion, however, does not sit especially well with Meghan Markle, who is alleged to be “wary” of her husband’s attempts to reach out to his family.
As per the Daily Mirror, citing a royal insider with knowledge of the topic at hand, say that Meghan is prepared to stick to her guns where the Sussexes frosty relationship with the Royal Family is concerned.
The source said: “Meghan knows she is facing a losing battle when it comes to Harry reaching out to Kate and William to try and sort through their differences, but she thinks he’s making a big mistake. She obviously feels sympathy for Kate and what she’s going through, but in her mind, it doesn’t change things.”
Last month Kate Middleton issued a brave and candid video detailing her cancer diagnosis after two months of speculation as to her health. Previous reports have suggested that Meghan has been in contact with her sister-in-law, but the aforementioned source claims the Duchess of Sussex is still feeling the sting of past experiences.
“She wants her to make a full recovery and for the family to all be ok but four years on from leaving and she’s still upset by it all and can never fully forgive the royals for what they put her and Harry through and have never apologised,” the source added.
Meanwhile, reports yesterday implied that there are no current plans for Prince William and Kate Middleton to meet with Harry when he journeys to the UK next month.
One royal insider is said to have told OK! Magazine: “William and Kate are very consciously focusing on positivity and recovery. Harry is due in London early next month, but there are no plans as of yet to meet with him while he’s over. He’s reached out and sent best wishes, but a meeting might be a little premature.”