Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, is back on British soil, but his London visit is not expected to include a reunion with his father, King Charles, or brother, Prince William. While in the UK, Harry will attend an awards ceremony honoring children, but reports suggest he will not be engaging with his family. This marks another instance of a strained relationship between Harry and the rest of the royals, following a pattern established in May, when he attended an anniversary service for the Invictus Games. Despite extending invitations, Harry’s father and brother reportedly did not see him during that visit either.
The rift between Harry and his family, which began in 2020, shows no signs of healing. Sources close to the royal family have revealed that Harry’s attempts to connect with his father, through both calls and letters, have gone unanswered. Similarly, Prince William has reportedly ignored all forms of communication from his younger brother. The strained dynamic stems from Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepping down from their royal duties in 2020.
One of the most contentious issues remains security. Sources within Harry’s circle have consistently pointed to this as a significant hurdle in mending the family relationship. Harry has been engaged in a lengthy legal battle for security arrangements, believing King Charles has the authority to intervene. However, palace sources have countered this notion, stating that the idea of Charles controlling Harry’s security is entirely incorrect.
While Harry’s spokesperson attributes the lack of interaction with the King in May to Charles’s ‘full schedule’, insiders suggest a deeper reason for the strained relationship. The issue of security seems to lie at the heart of the ongoing tensions, and its resolution remains unclear.
