Prince Harry’s reported hopes of rebuilding his relationship with King Charles have come under scrutiny from royal commentator Lee Cohen.
The Duke of Sussex has spoken openly about wanting to reconcile with his family, particularly his father, who continues to receive cancer treatment. Harry has also suggested that repairing those relationships would benefit his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Writing for GB News, however, Cohen argued that reconciliation cannot take place without acknowledging the fallout from Harry’s memoir, Spare, his television interviews and his public criticism of the Royal Family.
“Harry cannot reasonably expect Britain to forget the damage caused by his memoir, his interviews and the repeated public attacks on the Royal Family,” Cohen wrote.
He added that the dispute could not simply be treated as a private family disagreement, particularly because Harry’s accusations were made on such a public stage.
According to Cohen, Harry’s royal position gave him a level of influence that ordinary celebrity could never provide.
“Royal status was never simply a title,” he explained. “It was the engine behind his extraordinary access to the media, the public and the causes he championed.”
Cohen suggested that Harry and Meghan have since discovered that “celebrity is not the same thing as institutional relevance.”
The commentator also warned that any attempt to restore Harry to a prominent position could face resistance from supporters of the monarchy. For some, he argued, such a move would not appear to be a touching family reunion but a reward for conduct they consider unacceptable.
Cohen acknowledged that Charles faces a difficult balance between his responsibilities as a father and his duties as King.
“A father naturally wants reconciliation with his son,” he wrote. “But a sovereign must consider the institution he represents and the confidence of those who support it.”
He concluded that Harry welcoming back without what he considered genuine remorse could send a damaging message to those who remained loyal to the monarchy throughout the Sussexes’ public dispute with the Royal Family.
