'At Odds with Royal Family,' Prince Harry Says "I Want to Reconcile with My Family"

Lost Appeal Over Security Status: "The Royal Family Is Controlling My Life"
"Life Is Precious, and I Want to Reconcile With My Family"

Prince Harry, the younger son of King Charles III, who has long been at odds with the British royal family, has expressed his desire to reconcile with his family.

After marrying American actress Meghan Markle in 2018, Prince Harry declared his independence from the royal family in 2020 and moved to the United States. In 2023, he published his memoir "Spare," in which he revealed in detail the conflicts he had with King Charles III, his elder brother Prince William, and his sister-in-law Princess Kate Middleton, sparking controversy.

On May 2 (local time), the BBC reported that in an interview conducted in California, Prince Harry said, "Some members of my family will never forgive me for writing the book (memoir), but I want to reconcile with my family."

On the same day, he lost an appeal in a case regarding the restoration of his security status in the United Kingdom.

The Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC), overseen by the UK Home Office, excluded Prince Harry from automatic police protection provided to senior members of the royal family in February 2020. As a result, security arrangements for Prince Harry, who resides in the United States, are determined on a case-by-case basis whenever he visits the UK.

Prince Harry filed a lawsuit claiming this decision was unfair, and after losing the case in February last year, he appealed. He cited threats to his life from the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda and dangerous pursuits by paparazzi. He also argued that case-by-case security arrangements amounted to discriminatory treatment against him.

Prince Harry of the United Kingdom (right) and his wife Meghan Markle Photo by Yonhap News

However, the Court of Appeal in London rejected his claim, ruling that the case-by-case security decided by RAVEC did not constitute unfair treatment.

Prince Harry stated, "I am disappointed by this ruling," and described it as a "stitch-up by the establishment." He claimed that some within the royal family were involved in the decision to downgrade his security status, and that the case-by-case security for his visits to the UK was intended as a means to control his life.

Nevertheless, Prince Harry emphasized, "My father does not even want to speak to me because of this security issue. Life is precious. We do not know how much time my father, who is battling cancer, has left. I hope we can reconcile."

He added, "A lot has happened since 2016, but I can forgive now. I can forgive my family's involvement, my father, my brother, and my stepmother. However, I cannot forgive the decision made in 2020 that affected my daily life and put my family at risk."

Prince Harry also said, "At present, it is impossible for me to safely bring my family to the UK. I love my country, and I miss the UK. It makes me sad to think that I may not be able to show my homeland to my children."

Meanwhile, The Times reported that as a result of losing the case, Prince Harry will have to bear more than 1.5 million pounds (approximately 2.8 billion won) in legal costs for both sides.