The Duke of Sussex was wrong to claim that the King has shown “no willingness” to reconcile, sources have said.
Prince Harry suggested in an interview to promote his forthcoming memoir that he blamed his father and brother for the ongoing family rift.
He said of the Royal family: “They’ve shown absolutely no willingness to reconcile… I would like to get my father back. I would like to have my brother back.”
However, those close to the King insist that he has always made it clear how much he loves both of his sons, keeping communication channels open throughout the last few years, despite the many barbs from California.
Father and son are understood to have remained in contact, meeting several times during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations last June.
Their relationship has occasionally been tense but the King has repeatedly said that his door remains open and that the Duke and Duchess are welcome at any time.
Although he has not watched the couple’s Netflix series and is not expected to read Harry’s book, he is said to have been “deeply saddened” by much of the criticism aimed at the institution by his son and daughter-in-law.
But as several sources have made clear in recent weeks, he has no desire for further acrimony and would always welcome his younger son back into his arms.
One insisted that the King would never let personal hurt prevent him from building bridges, noting that he had insisted the Sussexes were invited to his coronation.
The Duke has given two television interviews, to Tom Bradby, ITV’s News at Ten anchor, and to veteran US broadcaster Anderson Cooper, to promote his memoir, Spare.
On Monday, clips from both were released ahead of the book’s publication on Jan 10.
In the trailer for ITV, the Duke suggests that he blames his father and brother for the ongoing family rift and says: “They feel as though it’s better to keep us somehow as the villains.”
What the Duke and Duchess want, specifically, from the Royal family is currently unclear.
They are likely still smarting from their perceived treatment in the immediate aftermath of the death of Queen Elizabeth II when Harry was not personally contacted by the King before a public statement was released.