Prince William and King Charles have "no incentive" to engage in reconciliation talks with Prince Harry following the Duke of Sussex's emotional BBC interview, according to royal sources who say trust between the parties has been irreparably damaged. The interview came just hours after Harry lost his Court of Appeal challenge over downgraded UK security protections.
Harry, speaking from California on Friday, said he still wished to make amends with his family. "There have been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family," Harry said. "Of course, they'll never forgive me for lots of things but there's no point in continuing to fight any more. Life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has. It would be nice to reconcile."
But palace insiders have described the interview as a further setback, not a step toward peace. "The Duke's latest decision to speak publicly about his family and the situation he finds himself in will only result in him being further than ever from the reconciliation he now says he wants," a royal source told The Mirror. "At its very heart, for the family there is a major trust issue when even thinking about speaking to him."
"There is certainly no incentive to do so when he is so free to openly criticise and only ever present one view, being his," the source added.
Senior royals, including Princess Anne, reportedly appealed to Harry in 2022 to cease public attacks if he wished to restore ties with his father and brother. Four months later, Harry published his memoir, Spare, which included accusations and revelations about the royal family. In his BBC appearance, Harry acknowledged that "some members of my family will never forgive" him for writing the book.
Buckingham Palace responded tersely to Harry's remarks. "All these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion on each occasion," the palace said.
Friday's interview followed Harry's court defeat over security arrangements for his visits to the United Kingdom. Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Harry's taxpayer-funded protection was withdrawn, and he must now provide advance notice of his trips. He argued this endangers his safety, stating during the broadcast that revealing his movements "leaves him open to a planned attack."
Sources said the remarks-particularly Harry's speculation about King Charles's health-were viewed by the family as inappropriate and damaging. "If there were anxieties about things remaining private, Friday will not have done them the power of good," one palace official said. Another source added: "For a son who claims to want a reconciliation, it's a curious way to build bridges."
"The King is a Christian and a good man. Forgiveness is central to that," said another insider. "But how can anyone forget the events of the past five years when they are repeated so often? The whole episode is as exhausting as it is sad."
A close friend of the King accused Harry of undermining trust. "Even when he speaks of reconciliation, it's laced with threats and anger," the friend told The Sunday Times. "It's not that the King won't speak to him, it's that he can't. How can you have a private and delicate conversation when you know it's going to end up on a news special within hours?"
