Prince Harry has said he is willing to reconcile with his family, but insists that efforts to mend ties may not go anywhere if his relatives are unwilling to meet him halfway.
Prince Harry arrives with security at the High Court in London on April 9, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
Speaking to BBC News in a newly aired interview recorded after the loss of his legal appeal over royal security, the Duke of Sussex expressed a mix of sadness, urgency, and clarity about his future.
Prince Harry attends the second day of his U.K. court hearing over reduced security on April 9, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
“I would love reconciliation with my family,” he said. “There’s no point continuing to fight anymore. As I said, life is precious. I don’t know how much longer my father has. You know, he won’t speak to me because of this security stuff. But it would be nice to reconcile.” He added, “If they don’t want that, that’s entirely up to them.”
The interview came shortly after a U.K. court dismissed his attempt to overturn the government’s decision to downgrade his police protection when he is in Britain. Harry had argued that the ruling subjected him to “unjustified and inferior treatment.” However, on May 2, 2025, the Court of Appeal upheld the decision, rejecting his claim.
Harry arrives at Britain’s High Court in London for his legal fight over U.K. security on April 8, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
During his conversation with BBC’s Neda Torfić, Harry said he was “Obviously, pretty gutted about the decision.” The prince, who is now 40, also said he is currently unable to return to the United Kingdom with his wife and children. “We thought it was going to go our way, but it certainly hasn’t,” he shared.
The Duke, who resides in California with his wife, Meghan, and their children, Archie and Lilibet, said he has only returned to the U.K. for funerals, court hearings, and the occasional charity event.
“I put myself at risk for that, but I will continue on with a life of public service,” he said. “I can’t see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point. And the things that they’re going to miss is—well, everything. [sic]”
The tension between Harry and the royal institution appears to hinge largely on his loss of security. “Just because you spoke there about forgiveness—it sounds like the last step to repairing relations with your family is the security issue, by what you said there,” Torfić noted.
Prince William, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, talk with King Charles III as they attend the Commonwealth Day service on March 11, 2019 in Westminster Abbey, London | Source: Getty Images
“One hundred percent,” Harry replied. “Whatever noise has been created, whatever stories have been written—this has always been the sticking point.” He went on to explain how the decision to remove his protection in 2020 stunned him.
“God forbid anything should happen. And I don’t regret that at all,” he said of his decision to step away from royal duties. “I thought with all the disagreements and all of the chaos that’s happening, the one thing that I could rely on is my family keeping me safe.”
Prince Harry at the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
But instead, he said, “Not only did they decide to remove my security in the U.K., but they also signaled to every single government around the world not to protect us.” Harry shared that the effect of the ruling is deeply personal.
Prince Harry outside Westminster Abbey in London on September 19, 2022 | Source: Getty Images
Reflecting on the rift, Harry acknowledged that some wounds may never fully heal, saying, “Of course, some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book. Of course they will never forgive me for lots of things.” Still, he expressed, “It would be nice to reconcile.”
Prince Harry at Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023 in London, England | Source: Getty Images
The idea is one Harry said he learned while engaging with First Nations communities in Canada through the Invictus Games. “Their goal in life was always truth and reconciliation,” he explained. “And I turned around to them in many conversations—I said, ‘Right, but reconciliation can’t come without truth.'”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after he delivers his remarks at the Invictus Games welcome reception in Whistler, Canada, on February 10, 2025 | Source: Getty Images
“Well, I’ve now found out the truth. I’ve shared some of it with you today. A lot of it exists out there—whether people choose to ignore it or not,” he said. “So it would be nice to have that reconciliation part now. If they don’t want that, that’s entirely up to them.”
In response to the BBC segment, Buckingham Palace issued a statement. “All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion,” stated a spokesman.
Prince Harry pictured on September 14, 2022 | Source: Getty Images
Prince Harry’s desire to return to the United Kingdom has been complicated not just by legal outcomes but also by public opinion. His appearance in court earlier last month marked a major moment in his long-running legal dispute with the Home Office — a case central to the tensions described in his recent interview.
After Harry’s significant departure from the royal family in 2020 and his relocation to North America, the British government announced that he would no longer receive the same level of publicly funded security during his visits to the UK.
Prince Harry was photographed arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Tuesday, April 8. His return to the UK for a court hearing stirred up strong reactions online, with many critics voicing their frustration over his ongoing legal battle for security.
Harry is seen arriving in court to challenge the decision to reduce his personal security during his visits to the UK, emphasizing the need for protection for his wife and children’s safety.
The duke, dressed in a dark suit and arriving in a black Range Rover, waved at the media outside but declined to respond to questions, including one about whether he would speak to his father, King Charles III, during the visit.
Upon arriving at the central London court, Harry chose not to respond to the questions shouted by journalists.
This court appearance was part of a long-running legal battle that began in September 2021. Back then, Harry launched legal action challenging the decision made by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) in February 2020 to downgrade his UK security.
That decision followed his and his wife Meghan Markle‘s withdrawal from royal duties and their move to the US. Hence, the April 8 hearing, which began with three judges reviewing the legal principles of the case, was a key moment for the duke, who said his ability to visit the UK had been severely limited by the lack of government-provided security.
While Harry’s UK visits are still met with police protection, the level of security he receives is determined on a case-by-case basis, with officials carefully assessing the situation each time.
During a previous court hearing in December 2023, a witness statement from Harry was read aloud, and it referenced his wife and kids. “It was with great sadness for both of us that my wife and I felt forced to step back from this role and leave the country in 2020,” the statement read.
Despite offering to personally cover the cost of additional security, Harry faced a system that insisted security funds must come centrally or not at all, a key point he’s fighting for in court.
It continued, “The UK is central to the heritage of my children and a place I want them to feel at home as much as where they live at the moment in the US. That cannot happen if it’s not possible to keep them safe when they are on UK soil.”
One of the main arguments Harry brought to court today was the limitation on his private security’s access to critical Home Office databases, leaving them without the essential threat information needed for full protection.
In his statement, Harry said he couldn’t risk his wife’s safety and, based on what he’s been through in life, was also hesitant to expose himself to danger without good reason.
His lawyer also contended that Harry has been treated unfairly and subjected to inferior security arrangements, claiming that he has been singled out in a way that others in similar circumstances have not been.
The two-day hearing at the Court of Appeal had many closely watching and awaiting the judges’ decision. As images of Harry’s return spread across social media, public reaction was swift. Several people shared their frustration at his continued demands for publicly funded protection.
As his barrister, Shaheed Fatima KC, presented her opening argument, Harry observed from the back row, seated with a notepad, pen, and a bottle of water.
One person didn’t hold back, penning, “What a shame.” Another critical voice added, “He should be ashamed to waste taxpayers money like this.” More people echoed these feelings, “What a disappointment he turned out to be.”
Skepticism quickly followed, with a commenter questioning, “Really? At this point, He is demanding security from the UK?”
Harry’s legal fight for increased security in the UK is generating significant media coverage, with supporters and critics weighing in on whether he deserves the protection he is seeking.
Some people pointed to Harry’s past decisions, “He made a choice. He wanted nothing to do with Royal duties and serving the people of the UK.” The debate went on, as one user stated, “He’s not a working royal, he doesn’t earn that protection.”
So, while Harry’s legal team presents their arguments, the media and public anxiously await the judges’ ruling on whether he will receive the security measures he seeks during his visits to the UK, keeping the pressure on the Home Office.
Frustration was evident in another message, “The entitlement of this man is staggering.” And one person speculated about the timing, “Is it a coincidence that Charles and Camilla are away on a trip to Italy, when Harry turns up in the UK?”
As Prince Harry’s legal battle continued, it was clear that his relationship with the UK, both the institution and the public, remains complex and emotionally charged.
