The strained relationship between Prince Harry and his family is expected to persist into 2025, with little chance of reconciliation, according to a leading royal expert.
Despite King Charles's ongoing battle with cancer, which has generated public sympathy, Harry's strained ties with the royal family are unlikely to improve anytime soon, says royal commentator Jennie Bond.
Bond suggests that the Duke of Sussex, currently residing in California with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children, Archie and Lilibet, has shown no signs of mending his relationship with his father or older brother, Prince William.
Bond reflected on the recent holiday season, noting that Harry and Meghan spent Christmas in private, far from the public eye, while the British royal family enjoyed a more visible and positive public presence.
"They had their own private Christmas thousands of miles away and hopefully they had a good time," Bond remarked. "Meanwhile, our royal family put themselves on parade and consequently enjoyed a great deal of extremely positive public approval and publicity."
Bond suggested that if Harry and Meghan were to take note of the favorable public response towards King Charles and Princess Catherine, who have both made public appearances despite their health challenges, they might find solace in the royals' ability to remain resilient in the face of adversity.
"If Harry and Meghan troubled to take note of the positive feedback around the royals here, they would probably have been happy that the King and Catherine were well enough to be out and about after their cancer diagnoses," she said. "They are not heartless."
However, Bond also pointed out that Harry and Meghan’s handling of the negative publicity surrounding them continues to be a matter of concern. "As for the negative publicity surrounding themselves, I hope they have learned to ignore it," she added.
The ongoing legal battle between Harry and the UK Home Office, regarding his security arrangements during visits to the UK, further complicates matters. The case, which continues to put King Charles in a delicate position, is expected to dominate royal affairs in the coming months, making it increasingly difficult for Harry to rebuild his relationship with his family.
Bond concluded by expressing little hope for any significant progress in the coming year. "I don’t foresee any progress in mending fences with the King and William in the New Year," she said.
