The Duke of Sussex might have had the power to turn back the clock and repair his fractured relationship with his father, King Charles III. But, as royal watchers speculate, something held him back.
For someone who stepped back from royal duties to “live a life of freedom,” Harry sure seems tethered to his past. He’s been clear about his grievances with the royal family — from the coldness he felt growing up in “The Firm” to the alleged mistreatment of his wife, Meghan Markle. But now, reports suggest a shift. During a recent interview, Harry seemed to show signs of vulnerability, acknowledging his concern about King Charles’ health and, more subtly, hinting at second thoughts about the distance he’s created.
Royal photographer Arthur Edwards, who has documented the Windsor family for decades, observed that Harry looked “so sad” during the exchange. “I feel somehow he’s having probably second thoughts,” Edwards told The Sun, capturing what many viewers had sensed during the broadcast. The photographer, who has witnessed the royal family’s ups and downs through his lens for years, noted the missed opportunity in Harry’s approach. “All he wanted to do was reconcile with his father. The thing is, if he’d only said sorry on that interview, ‘sorry, Pop, you know, I do want to see you’ – I think that might have had a different effect.”
The Duke’s apparent shift in attitude comes against the backdrop of a five-year estrangement that has played out painfully in public view. Since his dramatic departure from royal duties in 2020, Harry has relocated to California with Meghan Markle, creating a life that seems simultaneously idyllic and untethered. Edwards somewhat dismissively characterized Harry’s current existence as “probably just still feeding the chickens.”
At 40, Harry finds himself at a crossroads. His relationship with the Royal Family has deteriorated through a series of calculated public revelations. Harry acknowledged the obvious fractures, stating: “There have been so many disagreements, differences between me and some of my family. This current situation — ongoing for five years — is the sticking point.” With remarkable candor, he added, “Of course some members of my family will never forgive me for writing the book, for lots of things.”
What makes the situation particularly frustrating for royal observers is how solvable it seems on the surface. A simple apology —the very thing Edwards identified as missing — could potentially begin the healing process. Instead, Harry has placed the ball firmly in his father’s court, stating that whether reconciliation happens is “in his hands.”
