Prince Harry discussed familial affairs in his latest interview with the BBC, defying his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth‘s wishes. The Duke of Sussex lost his legal battle against the UK government to acquire police protection for his American family in his home country. The security squabbles stemmed from the Home Office’s decision to strip Prince Harry of security privileges following his move to the United States with his wife and kids back in 2020. Having lost his bid to have his police protection reinstated, the exiled Prince moved to appeal the court’s decision last year, in a proceeding that commenced in April 2025. However, he lost the appeal and had to contend with the reality that his taxpayers-funded police security may never be reinstated.
In the wake of the brutal blow, Prince Harry granted an interview with the BBC, where he discussed his intentions to reconcile with his family and the royal family’s pushback against his reconciliatory efforts. During the interview, Harry revealed that he felt devastated about losing his UK security case. Going further, he admitted the security dilemma has contributed to his estrangement from his father, King Charles, who wouldn’t speak to him “because of this security stuff.” The prince also insinuated he was done fighting, adding that he did not know how much longer his dad had to live.
Prince Harry’s BBC Interview Betrayed the Late Queen Elizabeth
While the royal family has not directly addressed Prince Harry’s revelations in the BBC interview, several palace insiders and those close to the royals have condemned the move. His decision to publicly comment on their ongoing family dispute and the King’s health has especially sparked ire within royal circles, as it went against the firm’s long-upheld traditions of keeping matters regarding health and familial disputes private.
Royal expert Hilary Fordwich believes this affront by Prince Harry was a betrayal of his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, who granted the Sussexes leave to quit their royal duties in 2020 to ensure peace and continuity within the firm. Watching Prince Harry threaten that very continuity she strived to protect her whole life with his tell-all BBC interview would leave the late Queen “truly horrified.” Fordwich explained,
“For her, it would indeed have been felt as a violation of both discretion and privacy. She valued the little privacy her family members could maintain in such an exposed role. Being betrayed by a family member, publicly airing grievances was abhorrent to her. She was particularly private regarding matters of health and family disputes.”
The royal expert also claimed that everyone who knew the late queen could attest to just how horrifying this turn of events would have been for her. The late Queen Elizabeth would have especially felt heartbroken over her grandson’s willingness to air his royal dispute publicly, to the detriment of the royal fold. For her, this went against the “family unity and discretion” she’d hoped for when she permitted Megxit. Fordwich divulged,
“She was focused on protecting the future of the monarchy. She guarded its reputation and continuity her entire life, focusing on stability.”
Harry’s Claims Amid Royal Feud Misrepresents the Monarchy
Like many royal supporters, Fordwich believes the remarks about the monarch’s illness “were in particularly poor taste,” and misrepresented King Charles’ health. They’ve also slammed Prince Harry’s insistence that RAVEC’s decision to revoke his UK police security was on the directive of the royals, who hoped that intentionally putting the Sussexes in harm’s way would force them back into the royal fold.
Since stepping back from the royal family, Prince Harry and his wife have unapologetically cast dirt on the monarchy, kicking off their smear campaign with their explosive Oprah Winfrey interview. At the time, the Sussexes hauled hefty allegations against the royal family, including claims of racism, bullying, and enduring ill-treatment that took a toll on Meghan’s mental health. Although the pair has taken a step back in the attack on the royals, the damage has already been done, making it nearly impossible to win back the trust of a family that once shielded them.
