Prince Harry’s path back into the royal fold may depend more on his brother than his father, according to royal historian Tessa Dunlop, who believes Prince William remains the most significant roadblock to reconciliation. In an interview with The Independent, Dunlop weighed in on the recent behind-the-scenes peace talks reportedly held between Prince Harry’s aides and representatives of King Charles.
While the meeting has offered a glimmer of hope for mending ties, she warned that the real challenge lies with the Prince of Wales. “So far, so good; the road ahead is long and not straightforward, but it is hopeful,” Dunlop said, referencing the secret London summit between Charles’ and Harry’s camps.
She added, “A softer, forgiving King, and a happier Harry (who I suspect still covets the half-in, half-out role he mooted five years ago), is an infinitely more appealing prospect than the current cold war statis.” However, Dunlop was quick to point out that the Prince and Princess of Wales were notably excluded from those discussions — a detail that may further complicate matters.
“However, when it comes to royal relations, a (crucial) third party was absent from the balcony,” she explained. “Subsequently, the Prince and Princess of Wales have reportedly been less than impressed with a ‘peace summit’ about which they knew nothing. Ouch […] William still bears a grudge – can you blame him? Siblings play by very different rules.”
According to the historian, Prince Harry likely already knows that winning back his brother’s trust could be a near-impossible task. “It will take years for the future king to trust again, if he ever can,” Dunlop said, referencing Harry’s memoir Spare, in which he candidly criticized members of the Royal Family.
“Harry alluded to this when acknowledging there were some in the Royal Family who would never forgive him for what he had written,” she added. Still, King Charles may remain Harry’s only real shot at redemption within the monarchy. “At the moment, King Charles is Harry’s only hope. If the Prince wants to make a meaningful comeback, it needs to be done sooner rather than later,” Dunlop advised.
But even if Charles welcomes him back, long-term acceptance could be fragile. “And even then, a Sussex return to the sunlit uplands of royalty may well prove short-lived. William is not a man for turning, and as the ‘spare’ knows all too well, one day the Prince of Wales will have all the power.”