Prince Harry Seeks Royal Reconciliation in BBC Interview/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ In a candid BBC interview, Prince Harry reflected on his fractured ties with the royal family, voicing deep frustration over security disputes and emotional distance from King Charles III. Despite airing grievances, he expressed a desire for reconciliation. He also shared concerns for his safety and his children’s connection to their heritage.
Prince Harry Interview Quick Looks:
- Harry says royal security feud keeps King Charles distant.
- Court rejects Harry’s bid to restore UK police protection.
- Prince blames palace officials for knowingly endangering his family.
- Harry says he doesn’t know how long his father has amid cancer treatment.
- Claims he faces high-level threats, including from al-Qaida.
- Expresses regret that his children may never know the UK.
- Says “there’s no point in continuing to fight.”
- Hints this may be his final public airing of royal grievances.
Deep Look: Prince Harry Seeks Closure, Safety, and Family Peace in Emotional TV Interview
LONDON (AP) – Prince Harry has reopened public scrutiny of his royal rift in an emotional BBC interview following his legal loss in a high-profile case over his personal security while in the U.K.
The prince, now 40, reflected on everything from estranged family ties to fears of violence, while also expressing a quiet but clear desire to reconcile. His remarks suggest a man caught between past trauma and present frustration, still seeking resolution.
Security Dispute Is a Core Source of Conflict
“This, at the heart of it, is a family dispute,” he said, adding that the king no longer speaks to him “because of this security stuff.”
On Friday, the Court of Appeal in London ruled against Harry’s challenge to reinstate his police protection, which had been revoked after he stepped down from royal duties in 2020. The court upheld that security decisions should be made case-by-case, based on current roles and threat levels.
Harry accused palace officials—who sit on the relevant security committee—of playing a role in the decision, suggesting they were “knowingly putting me and my family in harm’s way” in hopes it would pressure them into returning to royal life.
“I asked my father to step out of the way and let the experts do their job,” Harry said.
Health Fears for King Charles
Touching on the king’s ongoing cancer battle, Harry expressed deep concern.
“I don’t know how much longer my father has,” he said.
Since his diagnosis early last year, Charles has resumed royal duties but offered few public updates. Harry said he has only seen his father once since the diagnosis—and that was briefly. The rest of his visits to the UK have largely been for court cases or funerals.
Ongoing Fears for His Own Life
A significant part of the interview centered on Harry’s personal safety concerns. Once ranked in the highest threat tier among royals, Harry says he now faces the same dangers without proper protection.
Citing court filings, Harry revealed that al-Qaida once named him a desirable assassination target, due to his military background and time in Afghanistan.
“Whether I have an official role or not is irrelevant to the threat risk,” he argued.
He also invoked his late mother, Princess Diana, who was killed in a car crash while fleeing paparazzi in 1997, saying “some people want history to repeat itself.”
Fears of His Children Losing British Roots
Now living in California with Meghan, Archie (5), and Lilibet (3), Harry voiced concern that his children may never experience his homeland.
“I love my country. It’s really quite sad that I won’t be able to show my children my homeland,” he said.
He cited online hostility, media scrutiny, and lack of security as reasons he can’t safely return with his family.
Hopes for Reconciliation, but Without Illusions
Though his memoir Spare and previous interviews painted a damaging picture of Charles, Queen Camilla, and Prince William, Harry now says he wants to move past the conflict.
“I would love reconciliation with my family,” he said. “There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore.”
Royal historian Anthony Seldon described Harry’s tone as “deliberate and conciliatory”, suggesting this may be his final public airing of grievances.
“He’s signaling he wants to be back,” Seldon told Sky News. “There will be no more spiteful books. This is a turning point.”
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