Harry’s Real Hurdle Is Mending Ties with a Royal Who ‘Doesn’t Forgive Easily’ — No, It’s Not William
Before a true reconciliation, Prince Harry will have to mend ties with one royal. His brief reunion with King Charles earlier this month has sparked whispers of a thaw, but behind Palace walls, not everyone is prepared to let bygones be bygones. In fact, some suggest one family member in particular may never fully forgive. On September 10, Harry spent about an hour with his father at Clarence House, the King and Queen’s London residence. It was a meeting that was reportedly heavy with emotions, though not without tension.
In the past, Harry has been openly critical of Queen Camilla, once labeling her as ‘dangerous’ and ‘a villain’ who allegedly left ‘bodies in the street’ in a bid to rehabilitate her public image. With remarks as crude as those not so long ago, it is only fair that she was not brimming with enthusiasm about her husband’s reunion with his younger son. “Harry has been extremely unkind to her in print and in word, and she doesn’t forgive easily,” a source recently told The Times. Another friend of the King also said, “The royal family makes elephants look like they have short memories.” Even if time does indeed heal some wounds, the monarchy’s institutional memory is long. “Some members of the family may, in time, forgive Harry for the damage and hurt they feel he has caused, but none of them will forget,” the source added.
For Charles, the desire to reconnect appears genuine, even if guarded. “The King loves his son and will have been aching to see him when he could,” a source explained. But the same insider did not hesitate while saying that the reconciliation came with strings attached. “This is an olive branch wrapped in a test — if any details of the meeting emerge or there is any commentary from Harry’s camp, it will be back to square one.”
Harry's portrayal of Camilla in his memoir, Spare, struck nerves that may never fully heal. As another source noted, it is difficult to envision the Queen softening toward someone who has so publicly cast her as an antagonist. Harry, for his part, recently made it clear he has no qualms about publishing his memoir. In an interview with The Guardian, he dismissed any suggestion of regret, saying, “My conscience his clear... 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 added, “I don’t believe that I aired my dirty laundry in public. It was a difficult message, but I did it in the best way possible.”
Meanwhile, Harry’s relationship with his brother also remains strained. While Charles may cautiously pursue contact, Prince William has not made any move. The Prince of Wales, friends say, feels the weight of responsibility in the absence of Harry and Meghan Markle. “He definitely feels the pressure now; it’s all on him,” a close friend told The Times. “His future looks different because of his brother’s choices. It’s not easy.”