Negotiations for a reconciliation between Prince Harry and the rest of the royal family appear to be underway and the Duke of Sussex is already making some rather big demands regarding his family’s security when in the U.K. as well as the treatment of his wife, Meghan Markle.
Harry has reportedly left royal insiders in disbelief with significant stipulations before reconciliation between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family can commence. According to journalist Rob Shuter, the duke has given a list of demands including security (which he’s been fighting tooth-and-nail for), control over the press, (Buckingham Palace will be expected to keep the paparazzi at bay), and Meghan to be treated as HRH (Her Royal Highness) despite her stepping down from royal duties.
Are Harry’s demands reasonable?
While the prince was the one to publicly call for reconciliation between him and his family, it seems he believes he’s also in a position to make hefty demands. The question is, what will be the response from the royals?
Harry has previously been denied security for him and his family when in the U.K. Earlier this year the prince lost his court case against the home office. The decision was made not to reinstate his security on account of Harry not being a working royal anymore. Of course, we know the prince doesn’t mess around when it comes to the security of his family, “Security and privacy are non-negotiable,” according to Shuter’s sources.
His demand regarding control over paparazzi isn’t entirely surprising either considering the hell he’s been through with regards to that. The real subject of contention will no doubt be Harry’s stipulations regarding Meghan.
The Duchess of Sussex is going to be an issue
While Harry’s other requests may be achievable, his demand that the royal family treat Meghan like a royal despite her not being a working royal is unlikely to fly. According to Shuter, William has been a major holdout as “That means family member[s] must show her the formal respect of bows and curtsies. For William, that’s a hard no.” One courtier added that Harry’s reconciliation comes at a price “and that price includes the entire royal family bowing to Meghan.”
William has kept his distance from the negotiations between Prince Harry and King Charles so far and there have been rumors suggesting he does not support letting his brother back into the firm. Even if he were to consider it, insiders have already claimed multiple times that Meghan’s return to royal life would be a hard no for him, so it’s very unlikely that he would agree to Harry’s demands now.
As for Charles, Shuter’s sources claim that the king is torn, “He wants peace and to see his son,” but he knows that agreeing to such demands could risk “blowing open old wounds.” While the firm may be willing to accept Harry (and even then that’s not a guarantee), they simply cannot budge any further to allow Meghan back in too.
