Prince Harry’s Ups and Downs With the Royal Family Over the Years, From Royal Exit to Meghan Markle Tell-All and More

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Prince Harry's Ups and Downs With the Royal Family Over the Years, From Royal Exit to Meghan Markle Tell-All and More

Not all tea and sympathy. Prince Harry has always been one of the most jovial members of the British royal family, but he hasn't always gotten along with his own relatives. The Invictus Games founder is the youngest son of King Charles III and the late Princess Diana. As children, he and his older brother, Prince William, seemed inseparable, but as they got older, cracks began to form in their relationship. “There’s always been a part of Harry that felt like he was living in his brother’s shadow,” an insider told Us Weekly in November 2019. “He doesn’t envy the responsibility that comes with being the future king of England, but William’s the ‘golden boy’ and Harry feels like he has a lot to live up to.” The rift between the brothers grew wider in March 2021 when Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, opened about their decision to step back from their royal duties in a tell-all interview with CBS. During the TV special, the Sussexes accused unnamed members of the royal family of racist behavior. In particular, they alleged that one person had asked questions about their son Archie's skin tone ahead of his May 2019 birth. (They welcomed their second child, daughter Lilibet, in June 2021.) [jwplayer eNyiibWB-zhNYySv2] Days after the interview, the Duke of Cambridge responded to the accusations by saying, “We're very much not a racist family.” One month later, the brothers reunited at the funeral for their grandfather Prince Philip, who died in April 2021 at age 99. Though they were photographed walking together after the ceremony, a source later told Us that the duo still had work to do to mend their relationship. “Harry did speak to William while he was in the U.K., so in that respect, they made some progress,” the insider said at the time. “But they definitely haven’t reached the stage where all is forgiven, nor have they buried the hatchet.” Harry's dynamic with his father has also been strained since he and Meghan decided to step down as full-time working royals in January 2020. When the former military pilot visited the U.K. for Philip's funeral, he and Charles didn't manage to fully move past the tension caused by the CBS tell-all. "They barely communicated,” a source told Us in April 2021. “There definitely continues to be a huge wedge between the two.” Harry traveled to Balmoral, Scotland, upon Queen Elizabeth II's declining health in September 2022 while overseas with Meghan, though he did not make it in time to say goodbye. The monarch, who died at the age of 96, was also visited by Charles and Camilla. One day after Elizabeth's death, the king specifically mentioned Harry and Meghan in his inaugural speech as he declared Camilla Queen Consort and bestowed new titles on William and Kate. In a surprising gesture, Charles "express[ed] my love for Harry and Meghan, as they continue to build their lives overseas,” he stated at the time. Keep scrolling for a look back at Harry's ups and downs with the royal family over the years:

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The Courtship

Some of the tension between William and Harry dates back to 2016 when the Archewell cofounder started dating Meghan. According to royal reporter Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand's book Finding Freedom, William encouraged his brother to take it slow with the Suits alum, but Harry didn't appreciate the advice. “Harry was pissed off … that his brother would ask such a thing," the authors wrote. 

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Marrying Meghan

When Harry and Meghan tied the knot in May 2018, William served as his brother's best man. "The Duke of Cambridge is honoured to have been asked, and is very much looking forward to supporting his brother," Kensington Palace said in a statement at the time. 

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Fighting Back

After a British newspaper published a letter Meghan sent her father, Thomas Markle, Harry issued an unprecedented statement calling out the "British tabloid press" for "false and malicious" reporting about his wife. "Put simply, it is bullying, which scares and silences people," he said in October 2019. "We all know this isn’t acceptable, at any level. We won’t and can’t believe in a world where there is no accountability for this." 

That same month, Harry admitted that he and his brother were on "different paths" during an ITV documentary. “William is extremely concerned about Harry and Meghan,” an insider told Us at the time. “Even though the brothers have grown apart, William still cares about Harry and is hoping that he’ll open up to him about his current struggles. William wants to be there for Harry and hates seeing him in such a bad place. Despite their differences, blood is thicker than water.”

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Stepping Down

In January 2020, the Sussexes shocked the world — and Harry's family — by announcing that they planned to step down from their roles as full-time working royals. Charles was "livid" over the decision, an insider told Us at the time, adding that the Prince of Wales felt like Meghan was to blame for the situation. 

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The Tell-All Interview

Things between Harry and his relatives hit a boiling point in March 2021 when he and Meghan sat down for their tell-all interview, which aired on CBS. Among many shocking revelations, the one that stood out the most was the Bench author's allegation that a member of the royal family had asked pointed questions about the color of Archie's skin before his birth. 

Later in the year, a book alleged that Charles was the person who made the skin color comments, but the prince denied the claims, telling Us in a statement, "This is fiction and not worth further comment.” According to Scobie, the heir to the throne reportedly consulted lawyers as well. 

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Prince Philip's Funeral

Tensions between Harry and William appeared to ease in April 2021 when the pair briefly reunited for their grandfather's funeral. Two months later, however, royal expert Robert Lacey claimed that the duo "started quarreling" within "minutes" of getting behind closed doors. "The rage and anger between those two has grown so incredibly deep," the Crown consultant wrote in an op-ed for the Daily Mail. "Too many harsh and wounding things have been said."

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Reuniting With William

The brothers reunited again in July 2021 to unveil a statue in honor of their late mother. “They didn’t mend the bond at the funeral,” an insider told Us ahead of the ceremony, adding that the twosome planned to "make up" at the event. “But since the baby, they want to move forward. Both brothers are ready to move past the rift and have a good relationship again,” the source added.

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The Book

Later in July 2021, Harry once again threw his family for a loop when he announced he was writing a memoir to be published in 2022. "I’m writing this not as the prince I was born but as the man I have become,” the Me You Can't See producer said in a statement at the time. “I’ve worn many hats over the years, both literally and figuratively, and my hope is that in telling my story — the highs and lows, the mistakes, the lessons learned — I can help show that no matter where we come from, we have more in common than we think." 

His family, however, was less than thrilled about the news. "The royal family is shaken up about the book,” a source told Us at the time, adding that Charles and William were “particularly concerned about what Harry will reveal.” 

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Trying Again

In December 2021, an insider told Us that Charles and his youngest son were again trying to patch things up, but there was still a lot of work to be done. “Charles and Harry are in communication,” the insider explained, noting that the pair were "not speaking very much” after the tell-all interview. “There [are] still a lot of issues the two of them need to work out and move forward.”

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Charles Is 'Proud'

Shortly after an insider told Us that Charles and Harry were "in communication" with one another, the Prince of Wales made a rare supportive comment about his son's efforts to combat global warming.

"As a father, I am proud that my sons have recognized this threat," Charles wrote in a January 2022 issue of Newsweek. "Most recently, my elder son, William, launched the prestigious Earthshot Prize to incentivize change and help repair our planet over the next 10 years. ... And my younger son, Harry, has passionately highlighted the impact of climate change, especially in relation to Africa, and committed his charity to being net zero."

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Staying Away

A spokesperson for the Sussexes confirmed to Us in March 2022 that Harry would not be returning to the U.K. to attend an event honoring his late grandfather Prince Philip later that month.

“It's disappointing [because there] doesn't appear to be any serious reason why he can't be there,” royal expert Robert Jobson exclusively told Us in March 2022 of Harry’s decision not to make the trip, noting, “He's going to Holland for the Invictus Games shortly afterward.” Jobson added that it’s “disrespectful” to his family that Harry won’t be in town for the moment.

The Prince Philip's Century: The Extraordinary Life of the Duke of Edinburgh author further claimed that despite reports to the contrary, he doesn’t think there’s “much of a relationship between Charles and Harry at the moment” amid their recent ups and downs. Jobson told Us that Harry’s upcoming tell-all “could be something that never heals [the rift]” within the royal family, depending on what he writes about them.

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The Surprise Visit

While on their way to the Netherlands for the Invictus Games in April 2022, Harry and Meghan made a stop in England to visit the queen. The duo pointedly did not return to the U.K. for Philip's memorial service one month earlier after their battle with the Home Office over police protection during potential visits.  

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June 2022

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex traveled to England with their two little ones, Archie and Lilibet, to celebrate the queen during her Platinum Jubilee. 

The four-day festivities began with Trooping the Colour — a parade in honor of the queen’s historic 70 years as monarch. While all members of the royal family typically stand with the monarch on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the parade, Elizabeth announced in May that she decided only "those members of the Royal Family who are currently undertaking official public duties" would stand alongside her. The couple instead joined the rest of the extended family in the Major General’s Office, which overlooks the grounds.

The duke also was not wearing his usual military uniform, after being stripped of his labels following his decision to step down from his royal duties in March 2020. 

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Beyond Repair?

Two months after their return to the U.K., Meghan revealed that Harry felt like his relationship with Charles was damaged as a result of their decision to leave the royal family. "Harry said to me, 'I lost my dad in this process,'" she told The Cut in an August 2022 interview. "It doesn’t have to be the same for them as it was for me [and my father, Thomas Markle], but that’s his decision."

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Showing Up for the Queen

A spokesperson for Harry revealed the prince was traveling to Balmoral, Scotland in September 2022 to see the monarch before her death at age 96. Meghan, however, was confirmed to have remained in London as the couple were in town for an engagement.

Harry also paid tribute to his late grandmother on the Archewell website at the time of her death, writing, “In loving memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2022.” 

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King Charles III Expresses His 'Love' for Harry and Meghan

One day after Queen Elizabeth's death, the king made mention of the Sussexes in his inaugural speech with a touching gesture.

“I want ... to express my love for Harry and Meghan, as they continue to build their lives overseas,” the monarch stated.

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Reunited in Grief

After the queen's death in September 2022, an insider told Us that William arranged for his brother and Meghan to join him and Kate as they greeted mourners near Windsor Castle. “William invited Harry and Meghan to join them,” the source explained. “They were delayed in arriving while they arranged the plans.”

While speaking to well-wishers, Harry also gave his first public statement about losing his grandmother. “It’s a lonely place up there now without her,” he said, pointing to Windsor. “Every room she was in, you felt her presence throughout.”

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The Queen’s Funeral Processions

Harry was present to greet the queen’s casket at Buckingham Palace on September 13, 2022, and one day later, walked in a procession with members of his family to Westminster Hall for a service. He was not in military uniform — and while Prince Andrew was granted special permission to wear his uniform for the final vigil, the Duke of Sussex wasn’t initially given the same exception.

“[Prince Harry] will wear a morning suit throughout events honoring his grandmother. His decade of military service is not determined by the uniform he wears and we respectfully ask that focus remain on the life and legacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II,” he said in a statement through a spokesperson at the time.

After the backlash, Harry was given permission to wear his uniform for the final vigil on September 17. Two days later, he donned a morning suit for the state funeral, participating in the processions alongside his family and attending the services with Meghan.

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Remembering Past Controversies

During a December 2022 episode of Netflix's Harry & Meghan, the prince looked back on his 2005 Nazi costume scandal. "It was one of the biggest mistakes of my life," he told the cameras. "I felt so ashamed afterwards. All I wanted to do was make it right."

Harry went on to recall how he attempted to make amends with those he offended, particularly the Jewish community. "We sat down and spoke to the chief rabbi in London, which had a profound impact on me," he said. "I went to Berlin and spoke to a Holocaust survivor. I could've just ignored it and probably made the same mistakes in my life over and over again, but I learned from that."

In 2005, he issued a public apology for the blunder. "I am very sorry if I caused any offense or embarrassment to anyone," Harry noted in a statement. "It was a poor choice of costume and I apologize."

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Marrying for Love

"For so many people in the family, especially, obviously the men, there can be a temptation or an urge to marry someone who fits the mold, not someone as opposed to someone who perhaps you may be destined to be with," Harry said during an episode of Harry & Meghan in December 2022 — without naming names. "The difference between making decisions with your head or your heart. And my mom made most, if not all, of her decisions from the heart. And I am my mother's son."

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'Compelled' to Speak

Harry compared his experience as a senior royal to his mother's struggles in the spotlight, explaining why he and Meghan wanted to share their stories. "[Diana] felt compelled to talk about it. Especially in that Panorama interview. I think we all now know that she was deceived into giving the interview, but at the same time she spoke the truth of her experience,” he said in Netflix's Harry & Meghan. “My mum was harassed throughout her life with my dad but after they separated, the harassment went to new levels. … I saw things, I experienced things. I learned things. The pain and suffering of women marrying into this institution. I remember thinking, ‘How can I ever find someone who is willing and capable to withstand all the baggage that comes with being with me?’”

Earlier in the docuseries, which premiered in December 2022, he told the cameras: "This is a great love story. And the craziest thing is that I think this love story is only just getting started. [Meghan] sacrificed everything that she ever knew, the freedom that she had, to join me in my world, and then pretty soon after that I end up sacrificing everything that I know to join her in her world." 

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Moving Forward

Harry shed light on why he and Meghan continue to be candid about their royal experience and subsequent exit in a clip from his January 2023 60 Minutes interview. 

"Every single time I've tried to [speak] privately, there have been briefings and leakings and planting of stories against me and my wife," he told Anderson Cooper. "You know, the family motto is never complain, never explain, but it's just a motto. ... There becomes a point when silence is betrayal."

Harry also sat down with ITV's Tom Bradby, opening up about his relationships with Charles and William. "I want a family, not an institution. ... They've shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile," he claimed. "I would like to get my father back. I would like to have my brother back."

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The Nazi Costume

In January 2023 via his memoir, Spare, Harry claimed that his brother and sister-in-law initially supported his controversial Nazi costume for a Halloween party in 2005. “I phoned Willy and Kate, asked what they thought. Nazi uniform, they said. I rented it, plus a silly mustache, and went back to the house,” he wrote. “I tried it all on. They both howled.”

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The Physical Altercation

The BetterUp CIO claimed in Spare that he got into a physical fight with William after he allegedly referred to Meghan as “difficult” and “rude." "It all happened so fast. So very fast,” Harry wrote about the 2019 incident. “He grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor. I landed on the dogs’ bowl, which cracked under my back, the pieces cutting into me. I lay there for a moment, dazed, then got to my feet and told him to get out.”

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The Duel

According to Harry, he and William got into a "duel" after he returned to the U.K. for Philip's funeral in 2021. "I tried to explain my side of things,” he wrote about the meeting, which took place at Frogmore Gardens amid his royal exit. “I’d vowed not to let this encounter devolve into another argument. But I quickly discovered that it wasn’t up to me.”

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The Coronation

Harry attended his father's coronation in May 2023, but he had no official role in the ceremony and sat in the third row during the church service. He also did not participate in the procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace, and he was not present on the balcony when Charles and other members of the royal family came out to greet the gathered crowd.