Buckingham Palace has broken its usual silence to respond after Prince Harry’s failed attempt to restore UK police protection, despite his claims that he hopes to mend ties with his family.
Following the court’s decision on Friday to reject Harry’s appeal to reinstate taxpayer-funded security for himself and his family, the Duke of Sussex spoke candidly with the BBC about how the ongoing conflict has impacted his personal life and his strained relationship with his father, King Charles III.
“I want to reconcile with my family—there’s no reason to keep fighting, life is short,” Harry shared, noting the ongoing tensions between himself and several relatives.
Still, he said he’s chosen to “forgive” them.
However, he acknowledged that his father has cut off communication over the security dispute, adding that he’s uncertain how much time King Charles, currently undergoing cancer treatment, may have left.
Returning to the UK with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children Archie and Lilibet now seems increasingly unlikely.
“At this point, I just don’t see a scenario where I would bring my wife and kids back to the UK,” Harry told the BBC
He expressed sorrow over what his children would miss, saying “everything,” and added, “I love my country—I always have—regardless of what some people there have done. I miss it. Of course I do. And it hurts that I won’t get to show my children where I come from.”
The court ruling marks both a legal and emotional defeat for Harry.
In last month’s two-day London hearing, he argued that removing his security detail following his royal exit was unfair and discriminatory.
But on Friday, Justices Sir Geoffrey Vos, David Bean, and Andrew Edis ruled against his appeal.
Their reasoning was clear: since Harry stepped away from his royal duties, he is not entitled to state-funded protection.
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Harry reacted strongly to the judgment.
“I’m devastated—not just by the outcome, but by the people behind it, who think this is acceptable. Is this their idea of a win?” he said
He added that those who harbor ill will toward him would likely see this ruling as a victory
He went on to call the situation “a good old-fashioned establishment stitch-up,” suggesting the Royal Family may have influenced the outcome
In response to the media attention and Harry’s claims, Buckingham Palace—typically silent on private matters—issued a rare statement, saying: “These matters have been reviewed carefully and repeatedly by the courts, and each time the same conclusion has been reached.”
This ruling deepens the already complicated relationship between Harry and the monarchy.
Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet haven’t returned to the UK since the couple relocated to California in 2020. Meghan notably did not attend Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022.
It’s not the first time the Palace has spoken out in response to the Sussexes. After Harry and Meghan’s explosive 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey—in which they alleged a family member expressed concern over Archie’s skin tone—the Palace said it was “saddened” by the claims and found the allegations “concerning.”
At the time, the Palace added, “While some recollections may vary, they are taken seriously and will be addressed privately by the family.”
