Prince Harry has expressed his desire to reconcile with his family, saying he wants to repair his strained relationships with King Charles III and Prince William despite the emotional scars left by years of disagreements.
The Duke of Sussex made the remarks in an interview with GQ magazine published on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, in which he reflected on family estrangement and the importance of rebuilding broken relationships.
Harry acknowledged that his complicated relationship with his father and elder brother remained a source of grief, but he insisted that he wanted to find a way forward.
“Some people don’t want it to work out. I want it to work out,” Harry told GQ.
The prince added that the wider challenges facing the world had reinforced his belief that families should resolve their differences rather than prolong their conflicts.
“With everything else that’s going on in the world, the most important thing is to reconcile,” he said.
His comments represent a fresh public appeal to mend relationships that have deteriorated since he and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped back from their roles as senior working royals in 2020.
During the interview, Harry acknowledged that repairing damaged relationships does not mean pretending painful experiences never happened.
He explained that people must change how they approach past disagreements if they hope to move forward.
“Look, scars stick around forever, but what your perception is and what your mindset is to those things that have happened, certainly letting go of the past, that’s something that I would encourage everybody to do,” he said.
Harry recognised that letting go becomes more difficult when past experiences continue to affect someone’s everyday life. However, he argued that maintaining family disputes only adds to the difficulties people already face.
“For me, there’s enough drama in the world and enough drama in people’s lives than to continue with issues with family,” he said. “It’s not worth it.”
Harry also discussed how his family’s experiences could help other people facing similar difficulties.
He noted that disagreements between siblings and strained relationships between parents and children were common experiences that many people could relate to.
The prince suggested that sharing his own experiences might encourage others to consider repairing their relationships.
Harry’s relationship with William has remained particularly strained since the Duke of Sussex left Britain and stepped away from royal duties with Meghan.
The brothers once shared a close relationship, but their differences over Harry’s departure, his public disclosures about royal life and the treatment of his wife have contributed to their estrangement.
Harry discussed aspects of their relationship in his 2023 memoir, Spare, which included accounts of disagreements within the royal household.
Following the GQ interview, a spokesperson for the Sussexes clarified that Harry’s comment about some people not wanting reconciliation was not intended as a criticism of William or any other member of the royal family.
The clarification came after his remarks attracted speculation about whether he was directing the comment at his brother.
Harry’s relationship with his father has also faced significant challenges, including disagreements over security arrangements during his visits to Britain.
In May 2025, Harry told the BBC that he wanted to repair his relationship with the royal family and no longer saw the value in continuing the conflict.
“I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point continuing to fight any more, life is precious,” he said.
During that interview, Harry also discussed his concerns about his father’s health and the effect of their estrangement on their relationship.
The prince lost his legal appeal over his UK security arrangements in May 2025. He had challenged the decision to change his security provision after stepping back from royal duties.
Harry’s latest appeal also comes as he and Meghan settle back in Britain with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, following six years in the United States.
Despite acknowledging the lasting effects of family disagreements, Harry said he remained optimistic about the future.
“I am optimistic. I’m hopeful. I’m not naive,” he told GQ.
He also stressed the importance of mutual respect as the family considers how to move forward.
