Prince Harry Causes ‘More Damage’ Just Days After Reunion with King Charles
The royal family has been here before, a glimmer of reconciliation, followed by yet another setback. Just last week, Prince Harry sat down with King Charles for the first time in over 19 months in what insiders described as an 'emotional' meeting. The talks at Clarence House lasted under an hour, but after years of silence, distance, and public airing of grievances, the meeting was significant. As neither father nor son disclosed what was said behind closed doors, hopes briefly flickered that their fractured bond might be on the mend. Harry even hinted that the "focus really has to be on [his] dad" in the year ahead, in an interview with The Guardian, fresh off from the UK. Yet in the same interview, the Duke of Sussex defended the very book that many inside the Palace blame for deepening the family rift: his memoir, Spare.
When asked about Spare that detailed personal conversations, childhood trauma, and bitter clashes with Prince William and Kate Middleton, Harry was unapologetic. “My conscience is clear,” he said firmly, adding that the disclosures were “done in the best possible way.” This confidence has not reassured those who want to see fences mended. Grant Harrold, Queen Elizabeth II’s former butler, warned that Harry’s latest remarks risk undoing the goodwill built during his recent reunion with Charles. “This suggests Prince Harry doesn’t believe his book has done any damage, but that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Harold told GB News.
“This has kept the fire of the family feud burning for years longer than it would have done otherwise. His putting pen to paper and sharing private information has damaged their relationship even further.” Harrold acknowledged that Harry had every right to publish a memoir but said the consequences are his to bear. “He was completely within his rights to release a memoir, but he has to accept the repercussions of that. His saying he’s done nothing wrong is essentially him standing by the upset he’s caused, and saying he still believes the royal family were in the wrong.”
From Harrold’s perspective, Charles was willing to focus on the future during their recent talks, but Harry’s words since then risk reopening old wounds. “I believe the King wouldn’t have wanted to dwell on the past during their reunion last week, and would be happy to move past it,” he said. “But I believe this new comment from Harry will cause more damage. He just needs to stop commenting on things at this point; that’s the safest option if he wants to mend his relationship with his Dad.”
Harry, however, shows no sign of backing away from his approach. In the same interview, he argued that the public deserves the truth, even if it unsettles some. “They hope to bring the public with them, but… I think the British public can speak and think for themselves,” he remarked.