Prince Harry Says He Wants to Reconcile with Family in First Interview Since U.K. Move

The Duke of Sussex also opened up about why his kids are now in a British school, his hopes for a fresh start with the press, and what therapy taught him about grieving his mother.

Prince Harry is hoping to reconcile with his family, a sentiment he expressed in his first interview since returning to the U.K.

The Duke of Sussex sat down with GQ back in September during his trip to New York City, and the interview was just recently released. One of the topics the sit-down explored was the Sussexes’ return after years away from Harry’s homeland and the possibility of reconciling with his family.

“Some people don’t want it to work out. I want it to work out,” Harry, 42, told GQ’s Zach Baron on the video series “One More Question.” “With everything else that’s going on in the world, the most important thing is to reconcile.”

When Baron asked whether he grieves his complicated relationships with his father and brother, Harry answered, “Yes, of course.” He also recognized that family conflict is something many people can relate to, from sibling disagreements to strained relationships between parents and children.

Harry believes the wounds can be repaired. “Look, scars stick around forever,” he said, but “letting go of the past, that’s something that I would encourage everybody to do."

He added, “There’s enough drama in the world and enough drama in people’s lives than to continue with issues with family, you know?”

Why the Family Moved Back

Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from their royal roles in 2020, eventually settling in California. In August, the couple announced that they would be returning to the U.K. for an extended period with their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5.

During his interview with GQ, Harry said the move was driven by “opportunities for the family,” including the chance to send his children to a British school. “Being able to put the kids in a British school has meant a lot to me. I didn’t know how important it was to me,” he said, adding, “Don’t worry, I’m not criticizing American schools.”

It was also his intention to be closer to his loved ones and for his children to get to know the place where he grew up, focusing on “the good rather than necessarily the bad,” he said. He added that the move wasn’t planned far in advance, though it was something he and Meghan had considered.

A New Outlook on the Press

Harry has long had a strained relationship with the British media, which prompted him to launch multiple legal actions. He said he hopes everyone can “draw a line” under past battles. “I am optimistic. I’m hopeful. I’m not naive,” he said. “I have been naive in the past, but I think it’s important to remain optimistic.” He added, “I can respect them if they respect me and our position. Our position is really quite clear now, and hopefully we can get on with life."

Lessons on Grief

Much of Harry’s conversation with Baron was focused on grief, which the Duke had also discussed with neuroscientist Dr. Mary-Frances O’Connor during his recent MasterClass episode (People). On grieving his mother, Princess Diana, who died when he was just 12, Harry said he has learned that “you don’t ever get over grief. You live with it, you learn to live with it." (GQ).

He recognizes the importance of therapy, crediting it with helping him process his emotions after years of suppression. “Crying eventually feels great. It really does,” he shared.