The royal family seems to have firmly closed the door on any chance of reconciliation with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, according to insiders.
Princess Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell claims the family now has “no space” for the Sussexes and has adopted a tactic of keeping things strictly “in-house” when it comes to dealing with the estranged couple.
As recently reported by Daily express, Harry and Meghan have been living in California since stepping back from royal duties in 2020. Their move overseas was followed by a series of bombshell interviews and revelations about their time as working royals, including claims of racism and lack of support that have severely strained relations with Harry’s family.
The rift was further widened last year following the release of a Netflix documentary series and Prince Harry’s headline-grabbing memoir Spare. Both contained more criticism of the royal institution.
There were hopes that fences could be mended after sources claimed the Sussexes wanted to reconcile over Christmas. But those hopes now seem to have been dashed.
According to Burrell, there is little chance of Harry and Meghan ever being welcomed back into the fold.
“The doors are firmly shut. I think the royals are consolidating,” he said. “They are keeping tight-lipped and they are keeping everything in-house.”
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams agrees the family is now “keeping Meghan and Harry at arm’s length” and adopting a “business as usual approach.”
Sources say King Charles has no intention of extending an olive branch and believes there is little chance of building bridges after such public attacks.
“It’s likely there will be nothing but radio silence from the family moving forward,” said one insider.
The revelation comes as the BBC faces criticism for allowing exclusive access to the King for a recent documentary charting his first year on the throne.
Charles III: The Coronation Year was blasted by anti-monarchy groups for portraying a biased, overly sympathetic view of the royals.
Republic, which campaigns for an elected head of state, accused the BBC of producing “propaganda” and failing to properly examine the royal family’s flaws.
The BBC defended the program, saying it “seeks to reflect a range of viewpoints” about the monarchy.
But Fitzwilliams says granting such access undermines the royals’ attempts to keep Harry and Meghan at a distance.
“There is little doubt that many consider the decision unwise at a time when transparency about royal finances and the role of minor royals is being questioned,” he said.
As King Charles approaches his 75th birthday, there is increased focus on the looming transition to the next generation.
Some have suggested the time could be right for the monarch to consider passing the throne directly to Prince William, bypassing heirs like Prince Harry.
It would represent a clean break from the turmoil of recent years and cement William and Kate as the modern face of a reshaped monarchy.
“The King has been clear about his intentions for a smooth transition of power in due course,” a Palace spokesman said. “There are certainly no plans for any dramatic gestures at this stage.”
Whether the door to Harry and Meghan remains closed for good will likely depend on unpredictable factors like family dynamics and public opinion.
But for now, the family seems intent on looking ahead to the future rather than dwelling on the past.
