Prince Harry and Meghan Markle hold differing views on resolving their feud with the Royal Family, per insights from royal expert Tom Quinn.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are anticipated to visit the United Kingdom for the Invictus Games' 10th anniversary, a significant event initiated by Prince Harry in 2014. Their visit, however, is overshadowed by uncertainties due to the strained relations following their departure from royal duties in 2020.
Quinn, author of "Kensington Palace: An Intimate Memoir from Queen Mary to Meghan Markle," shared his perspective with The Mirror, suggesting that while Prince Harry is keen on reconciling with his family, especially in light of King Charles's and Princess Kate's cancer diagnoses, Meghan Markle seeks an apology from the Royal Family.
"Harry would love to patch things up with his sister-in-law and with his brother and father," Quinn stated. "He sees things far more calmly now he has had his say in 'Spare' and in various interviews, but he just cannot think how to do it and keep Meghan on board."
The relationship between Markle and Princess Kate has been a topic of public speculation since Markle became a member of the Royal Family in 2018. Prince Harry's memoir "Spare" delved into the fragile dynamics between the duchesses, including disputes over wedding plans and an incident involving bridesmaid dresses that reportedly led to Markle crying.
According to Quinn, Princess Kate has moved past the disagreement and does not seek an apology, whereas Markle expects one. "Kate definitely doesn't want an apology, but Meghan definitely does," he elaborated.
Prince William, heir to the throne, reportedly views the family discord as a minor issue, perceiving it as a "storm in a teacup" and expressing confusion over his brother's inability to move beyond their disagreements. "William just thinks the whole thing is a storm in a teacup and can't understand why his brother can't get over the sort of spat that many brothers have to go through," Quinn added.
The situation is compounded by feelings of hurt on both sides, with Harry and Meghan feeling slighted by their treatment as working royals and Prince William and Princess Kate feeling aggrieved following the Sussexes' departure and the publication of "Spare."
In a 2023 interview with The Telegraph, Prince Harry expressed a willingness to resolve the feud, emphasizing the need for a sincere discussion and an apology for his wife.
"I'm willing to forgive you for everything you've done, and I wish you'd actually sat down with me, properly, and instead of saying, 'I'm delusional and paranoid,' actually sit down and have a proper conversation about this, because what I'd really like is some accountability. And an apology to my wife," Prince Harry articulated, highlighting his desire for reconciliation and acknowledgment of the couple's grievances.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry has candidly shared insights into his relationship with Prince William, drawing parallels between their brotherhood and the dynamic between his own children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, as per Express UK. Despite current strains in their relationship, including a lack of communication, Prince Harry reflected on the once close bond he shared with his brother, a bond that has faced challenges in recent years.
The Duke of Sussex's relationship with the heir to the throne has been notably affected by his public discussions regarding life within the Royal Family and their personal issues. These discussions have taken place through various platforms, including interviews, the Netflix docuseries "Harry & Meghan," and his memoir, "Spare."
In 2023, while promoting "Spare," Prince Harry commented on the sibling dynamic, noting the similarities between his relationship with Prince William and that of his children, Archie and Lilibet. Archie, born in 2019, and Lilibet, born in 2021, share a similar age difference to Harry and William, who were born in 1984 and 1982, respectively.
During an interview with ITV's Tom Bradby, Prince Harry observed, "The gap between me and William is very similar to Archie and Lili. And to see Lili obsessed with Archie and Archie like 'no, no Lili, I need my space, I need my space,' now I get it. I get how irritating the younger sibling can be to the older sibling. But in the moment, at the time, I didn't. I didn't really grasp that, I didn't really realize it."
Furthermore, in "Spare," Prince Harry detailed aspects of their fraternal relationship, including feelings of neglect during their time at Eton College.
"I talk about the relationship between William and myself at Eton and the fact that he didn't really want to know me," Harry told Bradby. "You know, as the younger brother that sucks. It's like: 'Come on, like you left me at Ludgrove [School] and now I'm here at Eton, like hey, now we're at the same school, let's go.' He didn't want anything to do with me. And that hurt at the time."
Additionally, Prince Harry accused Prince William of physical aggression during a 2019 confrontation involving Meghan. He described an incident where William allegedly criticized Meghan as "rude," "difficult," and "abrasive," echoing negative media portrayals. The altercation escalated, according to Harry, leading to William physically attacking him, resulting in Harry sustaining a visible back injury after falling onto and breaking a dog's bowl.
