Prince Harry has renewed his call for reconciliation with the royal family, saying in a newly released video interview that repairing his relationships with his father and brother matters more than the disputes that have divided them for years.
Speaking with GQ host Zach Baron in an interview recorded in September and released Tuesday, the Duke of Sussex was asked whether he grieved his complicated relationships with King Charles III and Prince William. «Yes, of course,» Harry said. He described sibling disagreements and broken relationships between parents and children as «a massively relatable issue for so many people,» adding that the subject comes up repeatedly in conversations with those he meets.
Harry, 42, said he wants the rift to be resolved even as he acknowledged that others may feel differently. «Some people maybe look at us and go, ‘How are you gonna work it out? Maybe that will help me work my stuff out,’» he said. «Some people don't want it to work out. I want it to work out. With everything else that's going on in the world, the most important thing is to reconcile — that's the key point.»
Asked whether the family «wound» could be repaired, Harry replied, «Scars stick around forever.» He said what matters is a person's perception and mindset toward past events, and encouraged people to let go of the past while acknowledging that some experiences are harder to release. «For me, there's enough drama in the world and enough drama in people's lives to continue with issues with family,» he added.
The interview drew attention for Harry's remark that «some people don't want it to work out,» which prompted speculation that he was referring to William. A spokesperson for Harry later told People magazine that the comment «was absolutely not intended as a swipe at his brother or any other member of his family,» describing it as a general observation rather than a targeted criticism.
The Sussexes' relationship with the royal family has been strained for years. Rumors of a rift between Harry and William began circulating in 2018 after Harry married former «Suits» star Meghan Markle. In October 2019, Harry publicly acknowledged problems with his brother, telling ITV that while they would «always be brothers,» they were on «different paths» and saw less of each other than before.
Tensions escalated after Harry and Markle stepped back as senior working royals in January 2020 and relocated to Canada before settling in California. The couple later aired grievances in a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, alleging a lack of institutional support and accusing an unnamed royal family member of racism. Harry said at the time that he felt «really let down» by his father but would «always love» him and would make healing the relationship a priority.
The rift deepened with the 2022 Netflix series «Harry & Meghan» and the January 2023 publication of Harry's memoir, «Spare,» in which he detailed private disputes with his father and brother. Buckingham Palace declined to respond publicly to the allegations. In a 2023 ITV interview promoting the book, Harry said forgiveness was «100% a possibility» and that he wanted his father and brother back, while also seeking accountability.
His latest remarks echo earlier public calls for an end to the feud. The interview offers no indication of a specific plan or timetable for a reunion, and neither the palace nor William has commented on the new comments. Harry's plea nonetheless places the family's long-running estrangement back in public view, framing reconciliation as a personal priority amid broader global turmoil.