Prince Harry Seeks Reconciliation With King Charles and Prince William

Prince Harry has expressed renewed hope for reconciliation with King Charles III and Prince William after returning to Britain with Meghan and their children in August. In an interview with GQ recorded in New York in September, the Duke of Sussex discussed the family rift, his children's education, his father's health and his changing perspective on past conflicts.

Harry's comments, published on October 20, 2026, came as senior members of the royal family hosted the Sultan of Oman at Windsor Castle. A spokesperson for the Sussexes said the interview's publication date was decided by GQ, rejecting suggestions that its release was intended to overshadow the state visit.

The interview also coincided with the Sussexes' first public appearance together in Britain since their return. During a visit to charity projects in Nottingham the previous week, Meghan welcomed the opportunity to be back, while Harry described seeing well-wishers as wonderful.

Asked whether he was grieving his complicated relationships with his father and brother, Harry acknowledged the emotional impact and described family estrangement as a widely shared experience.

"Yes, of course." Harry said when asked whether he was grieving those relationships.

He emphasized that his priority was repairing the family relationships rather than prolonging disagreements.

"Some people don't want it to work out. I want it to work out," Harry said. "Of course I do. With everything else that's going on in the world, the most important thing is to reconcile — that's the key point."

Harry said his perspective had changed since he and Meghan stepped away from royal duties in 2020. The couple subsequently settled in the United States and discussed their experiences with the royal family in interviews, Harry's memoir Spare and their Netflix series.

Reflecting on the circumstances surrounding their departure, Harry said the couple's attitude had evolved, although he acknowledged that difficulties had continued over the intervening six years.

"I think that, certainly, our attitude has changed. What happened back then was then. What's happened over that over the last six years has been a continuation of that.

Some battles that had been fought — and necessarily so — but hopefully we can all draw a line under that." Harry said.

He also stressed the importance of mutual respect as the family considered its future relationships.

"I am optimistic, I'm hopeful. I'm not naive, I have been naive in the past. But I think it's important to remain optimistic.

A large part of this is about respect as well. I can respect them if they respect me and our position — our position is really quite clear now. And hopefully we can get on with life."

Harry said.

A spokesperson for Harry separately denied that his remarks were intended as a criticism of William or any other relative, saying the comments were made in a general context rather than directed at his family.

The move back to Britain has also allowed Harry and Meghan to enroll their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, in the British education system. Harry said attending a British school was personally significant and offered his children opportunities to experience the country where he grew up.

According to Harry, the children had been enjoying school and spending time with friends as they settled into their new surroundings. However, they changed schools after two days because of security concerns, The Times reported.

Harry also described the return as an opportunity to spend more time near his relatives rather than limiting visits to brief stays. He said the family had not planned the move for an extended period and proceeded when circumstances aligned.

He suggested that spending several months outside the United States would provide time for circumstances there to settle. The Times noted that his remarks could relate to the US midterm elections scheduled for November 3, although Harry did not explicitly identify the elections as his reason.

The interview also explored Harry's grief following the death of his mother, Princess Diana, in 1997. He said he continued to feel connected to her memory and sometimes wondered how his family might have developed had she lived.

Harry said he did not seek sympathy because he had access to a support network and had undertaken different forms of therapy. He also discussed his experience of growing up in a family affected by parental separation and his subsequent military service.

The conversation formed part of GQ's One More Question program and accompanied the release of Harry's 20-session online masterclass, Redefining Grief, developed with neuroscientist and psychologist Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor.