Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has been making headlines for his decision to step away from royal duties and move to the United States with his wife, Meghan Markle. While the couple’s move has been met with mixed reactions, there is one thing that seems clear: Harry’s relationship with the rest of the royal family has been strained.
According to royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams, Harry’s decision to leave the royal fold has not gone down well with his family, particularly his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. In an interview with Express.co.uk, Fitzwilliams predicted a “cold, icy” coronation for Harry if he were to ever return to the UK.
“The Windsors don’t forgive easily,” Fitzwilliams said. “There’s a feeling that Harry has let the side down and that he’s been disloyal to the Queen.”
Fitzwilliams went on to say that Harry’s recent interview with Oprah Winfrey, in which he and Meghan made several explosive claims about the royal family, had only made things worse.
“The interview was seen as a betrayal,” Fitzwilliams said. “The royal family is a very tight-knit group, and to air their dirty laundry in public like that was not well received.”
Fitzwilliams also pointed out that the current heir to the throne, Prince Charles, has been particularly affected by Harry’s departure. “Charles had been grooming Harry for years to take on more responsibilities within the royal family,” Fitzwilliams said. “To see him walk away like this has been a huge blow.”
Despite the strained relationship between Harry and the rest of the royals, Fitzwilliams did say that it was possible for Harry to repair the damage.
“If Harry were to return to the UK and start taking on more royal duties, there is a chance that the family could forgive him,” Fitzwilliams said. “But it would take a lot of work on his part to rebuild those bridges.”
For now, it seems that Harry and Meghan are content living in the US and pursuing their own interests. Whether or not Harry will ever return to the UK and take up his royal duties again remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: his relationship with the Windsors will never be the same.
