King Charles has reportedly set one condition for his son Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle to return to the royal fold. According to royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams, who spoke to Express, King Charles is willing to welcome Harry and Meghan back into the royal family, but only if they stop making public attacks on the monarchy.
Harry and Meghan, who stepped back as senior royals in 2020 and moved to California, have caused a rift with the royal family by making several allegations and criticisms against them in various interviews and statements.
According to Express, The most explosive of these was their tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, where they accused the royal family of racism, lack of support, and isolation. They also claimed that King Charles had cut them off financially and stopped taking Harry’s calls. Since then, Harry and Meghan have continued to speak out about their experiences and opinions on various issues, such as mental health, media, and politics, often in contrast to the royal tradition of remaining neutral and discreet.
Fitzwilliams said that King Charles, who is known for his progressive and modern views, is open to reconciliation with Harry and Meghan, but he expects them to respect the institution of the monarchy and its values.
“He [King Charles] would always welcome a reconciliation with Harry and Meghan, he has made that very clear, and his door is always open in that regard,” Fitzwilliams said.
“But he also expects them to behave in a way that is compatible with being members of the royal family, even if they are not working royals. That means not airing their grievances in public, not undermining the monarchy, and not exploiting their royal status for personal gain,” he added.
Fitzwilliams said that King Charles is aware of the popularity and influence of Harry and Meghan, especially among the younger generation, and he would like them to use their platform for positive causes.
However, he also said that King Charles is not willing to tolerate any more damage to the reputation and unity of the royal family, which he has worked hard to preserve and modernize.
“He [King Charles] knows that Harry and Meghan have a huge global reach and a lot of potential to do good work, especially in the Commonwealth, which is very dear to his heart,” Fitzwilliams said¹.
“But he also knows that the monarchy is based on trust, loyalty, and duty, and he will not compromise on those principles. He will not allow Harry and Meghan to have their cake and eat it too,” he concluded.
Harry and Meghan have not returned to the UK since their departure, except for Harry’s brief visits to attend the funeral of his grandfather Prince Philip in April 2021 and the unveiling of a statue of his mother Princess Diana in July 2021.
It is not clear if Harry and Meghan will join the rest of the royal family for the Platinum Jubilee of King Charles in 2022, which will mark the 70th anniversary of his accession to the throne.
