Duke of Sussex advised on key step needed for reconciliation with Royal Family

Prince Harry, who has spoken openly about his pain over the rift with his family, has now been given a clear piece of public relations advice: reconciliation will only be possible if he’s willing to utter one crucial word—“sorry”.

The Duke of Sussex recently expressed his deep desire to mend ties with the Royal Family in a headline-making interview with the BBC. In it, he criticised royal aides over the decision to scale back his UK police protection and admitted to being hurt that his father, King Charles, “won’t speak to me because of this security stuff”, following the court’s rejection of his appeal regarding the issue.

David Yelland, former editor of The Sun and now a respected PR adviser, weighed in on the prince’s remarks. He noted that while Harry presented himself as someone grappling with trauma, there was also an air of “entitlement that the public can see”.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s When It Hits the Fan podcast, Yelland acknowledged, “Harry is a laudable person in many ways,” but emphasized the importance of language in public perception.

“In PR, the words you use matter deeply,” he explained. “Harry spoke of ‘reconciliation’. He clearly wants a rapprochement. But for any process of truth and reconciliation to begin, one has to be willing to say ‘sorry’ for their own role in things.”

He added, “If there’s going to be any path to healing, both sides must be willing to apologise. Right now, we’re not seeing that reflected in Harry’s communications.”

Harry’s separation from the Royal Family began in 2020 when he and Meghan Markle stepped down from royal duties and relocated to California with their children, Archie and Lilibet.

Following what came to be known as “Megxit”, the couple gave a high-profile interview to Oprah Winfrey in which they criticised the monarchy. Tensions escalated further with the release of Harry’s memoir Spare, where he detailed personal conflicts, including physical altercations with his brother, Prince William.

Simon Lewis, who co-hosts the podcast and once served as Queen Elizabeth II’s communications secretary, described the current situation as “sad” for both Prince Harry and the Royal Family. He also stressed the importance of timing and delivery in public relations.

“Often in PR, the timing of when you say something is crucial—followed closely by how you say it,” said Lewis. “Perhaps Harry could have expressed some of his points with more finesse. A less confrontational tone might have drawn more public empathy.”

As it stands, the hope for reconciliation seems to rest not only on honest dialogue but also on a shared willingness to take responsibility for past grievances.