Over the past few weeks, it had seemed like the royal rift was on the mend: Prince Harry extended a copy of his schedule to the royal family, King Charles and Prince Harry’s aides met for a private conversation, King Charles and Prince Harry actually met for the first time in over a year last week when Harry was visiting the UK.
However, Prince Harry’s latest interview with The Guardian seemed to have reversed all the steps taken towards reconciliation. He told the publication that he has no regrets over the publication of his bombshell memoir, Spare, and that despite it effectively ruining his relationship with his family, his “conscience is clear.” Keep reading for more information.
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Prince Harry Has No Regrets Over Memoir
In an interview with The Guardian during his trip to Ukraine last week, Harry reflected on his previous interviews and said that his wife, Meghan Markle, told him that telling the truth "is the most efficient way to live."
"I know that [speaking out] annoys some people, and it goes against the narrative. The book? It was a series of corrections to stories already out there. One point of view had been put out, and it needed to be corrected," he said.
"I don't believe that I aired out my dirty laundry in public," he continued. "It was a difficult message, but I did it in the best way possible. My conscience is clear."
The outlet then reported that being called stubborn bothered Harry a bit, and Harry said, "It's not stubbornness, it is having principles. It is not about revenge, it is about accountability."
But What About Reconciliation?
These remarks came as a shock to many, as it had been widely accepted that Harry was taking steps towards reconciliation, and coming out and saying he had no regrets about the way in which he painted his family in his memoir was not the next move people thought he would take.
After Prince Harry's meeting with his father last week, which he called "great," some even suspected an apology might be coming. It looks like Harry might not be as desperate for reconciliation as previously thought.
Speaking to Fox News Digital back in August, royal expert Hilary Fordwich said that King Charles is "more guarded than ever, indeed somewhat traumatized by a string of betrayals."
She added that despite Harry clearly being "desperate," the king "has expressed being cautious and way regarding fearing further unsavory leaks, especially private royal family gatherings being publicized yet again."
Plus, it's going to take a lot more to get back in Prince William's good favor. "Overall doubt still prevails in Prince William's camp," Fordwich said. "He considers any reconciliation at all as a 'grave mistake.' His senior royal courtiers are understood to be just as wary and immensely protective of the future monarch. They only see [a reconciliation] as creating more bombshells, as well as instability."
However, a path towards reconciliation is seemingly in the works. Meredith Maines and Liam Maguire, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's aides, were photographed in London meeting with Tobyn Andreae, King Charles' communications secretary. The trio met at the Royal Over-Seas League, a private members' club a few minutes away from the Clarence House, where King Charles lives. According to witnesses, the trio enjoyed the outdoors on the club's balcony before moving inside for a more private conversation.
Though no tidbits of their conversation were heard, a source told Daily Mail: "There's a long road ahead, but a channel of communication is now open for the first time in years. There was no formal agenda, just casual drinks. There were things both sides wanted to talk about."
