Prince Harry has reignited tensions with the British Royal Family after publicly speculating on King Charles III's health and suggesting the monarch refuses to speak to him due to ongoing legal disputes over royal security. In a BBC interview following the Duke of Sussex's failed appeal in his case against the U.K. Home Office, Harry said: "I don't know how much longer my father has... he won't speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile."
The comments have prompted criticism from royal aides and former palace officials who accused Harry of fueling damaging speculation about the King's condition. Charles, 75, is currently undergoing treatment for cancer, though Buckingham Palace has released minimal detail regarding the diagnosis.
Ailsa Anderson, former press secretary to the late Queen Elizabeth II, said in a statement to Sky News: "Prince Harry is saying 'I don't know how long my father has' - that's going to cause real concern and more speculation in the media and the wider public about what his diagnosis is, which is incredibly unhelpful going forward."
She added that Harry's approach to reconciliation, made through media interviews rather than private channels, would likely be poorly received within the palace. "What you don't want to do is have your private life played out in the media. So if you truly want reconciliation, you'll do it in private, not in a BBC News interview," Anderson said.
In the same interview, Harry appeared visibly emotional and reiterated his desire for a truce with his family, including King Charles, Queen Camilla, and Prince William. "I would love reconciliation with my family," Harry said. "There's no point in continuing to fight anymore." He acknowledged, however, that "some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book," referring to his 2023 memoir Spare, which contained damaging allegations including that William physically assaulted him and that Charles was jealous of Meghan Markle.
Harry also repeated past criticisms of the Royal Household's role in decisions around his security status, which changed after he and Meghan stepped down as working royals and moved to California in 2020. He lost a Court of Appeal challenge seeking full police protection during visits to the U.K., and in the interview characterized the decision as "a good old-fashioned establishment stitch-up" that has effectively forced him into exile.
"There have been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family," he said. "Security is the only thing that's left - the sticking point." He claimed the decision "basically says you can't live outside of their control if you want to be safe."
The Duke stated that he intends to request a formal review of the decision under the new Labour government, specifically appealing to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. "Because if it is an expert body, then what is the Royal Household's role there, if it is not to influence and decide what they want for the members of their household?" Harry said.
Harry's comments also revisited past trauma, drawing a line between his own legal battle and what he suggested were dangerous precedents within the institution. Referencing the death of his mother, Princess Diana, he warned that "some people want history to repeat itself."
Since his 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview and the publication of Spare, relations have soured significantly, particularly following claims of racism and personal attacks on senior royals including Camilla.
