Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, continues to harbor hopes for a reconciliation with the British royal family, despite the widening chasm that has developed since his and Meghan Markle's departure from the UK. However, insiders suggest that the chances of mending fences seem increasingly slim, as the royal family remains distant.
Since the couple's controversial exit from royal duties in 2020, famously dubbed "Megxit," Prince Harry has been "forever hoping" for outreach from his family, particularly from his father, Prince Charles, and brother, Prince William. Yet, these calls have been conspicuously absent. "He knows he has to get behind Meghan and support her in their new life. But he misses home and is forever hoping for calls from his dad and brother that never come," shared a royal insider.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's actions, including their candid interviews and business ventures, have only served to further alienate them from the monarchy. The current state of affairs between the Sussexes and the royal family is described as "non-existent," with tensions reaching "nuclear" levels among senior members of the Crown.
While Prince Harry appears eager to bridge the divide, the onus of making the first move seems unlikely to come from Prince William. "William hasn't reached out to Harry, and vice versa. They haven't been arguing, but there hasn't been any contact made either. No telephone calls, no FaceTime, and no Zoom calls," revealed another source close to the royal family.
Royal expert Sarah Hewson weighed in on the situation, stating, "The damage, the wounds, are so deep that it's going to take an awful lot and an awful long time to heal those wounds. At this stage, I just don't see any evidence that there's a desire on either side yet to put an end to this."
Further highlighting the strained relations, neither the Prince of Wales nor King Charles III publicly wished Prince Harry on his 39th birthday on September 15. This was attributed to a new royal protocol, which dictates that only senior, working members of the Crown receive public tributes on social media. However, many believe this to be a subtle snub directed specifically at the Sussexes.
The last time the Sussex family, including their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet Diana, met with the royal family was in the summer of 2022. With no clear resolution in sight, the rift between the two factions of the royal family is expected to persist, keeping commentators and royal watchers on their toes.
