Harry Could Mend Ties With Charles in 2026 ― But Only If Two Strict Conditions Are Met
It's been six years since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle celebrated New Year’s in the UK, having left the royal fold in 2020. Since then, they have privately enjoyed the holidays in either Canada or California along with their kids, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Before ringing in the new year this time, the Duchess gave fans a sneak peek at her celebrations, calling it a low-key affair. While she looked excited for the year ahead, a royal expert has issued a stern warning to Harry regarding mending ties with his family, especially with his father, King Charles.
2025 was a rollercoaster for Harry. With the success of the Invictus Games in Canada and a seemingly positive September trip to the UK, where he met his father after almost 19 months, he may have felt elated. But with several highs, the Prince also faced some major setbacks. The most brutal of the lot would probably be when he quit as patron of his Sentebale charity, a role he held for 19 years. The charity is one of the longest-running projects he co-founded in 2006 from scratch in honor of his late mother, Princess Diana.
Then he lost his appeal regarding the reinstatement of his police protection in the UK. However, with the Home Office recently ordering a fresh review of his security needs, Harry has surely ended the year on a good note. According to royal expert Jennie Bond, this decision will play a huge role in Harry mending ties with his father. Speaking to The Mirror, Bond argued that if Harry’s security review goes in his favor, then a major obstacle standing in the way of his UK return will be lifted.
Bond also argued that the security dispute has also acted as a "spanner in the works" for Harry’s relationship with Charles. “I think it’s only by coming over and seeing his dad in person from time to time that the rift between them could gradually be mended.” She further advised the Prince to communicate via letters, as Charles is a “great letter writer.” Bond suggested two specific ways in which the Duke can help fix his relationship with the monarch.
She noted, “Harry could help by making himself available to fit in with his father's very busy diary and by ensuring that absolutely nothing about any meeting is given to the media.” This warning comes as no surprise. Following his 2021 Oprah Interview, the 2022 Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan, and the many bombshell claims he made in his 2023 memoir Spare, the trust between Harry and the Firm remains badly fractured. By following these suggestions, the royal expert suggested that “2026 could turn out to be a very good year for Harry.”