Royal Family Turmoil: Prince Harry’s Moves, Palace Reactions and the Future of the Monarchy

Published: 25 August 2025. The English Chronicle Desk

Since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped away from royal life in 2020, the relationship between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the wider Royal Family has been marked by tension, public revelations, and a succession of controversies that have often shaken the monarchy’s carefully maintained image. What began as a quest for independence and personal freedom has evolved into a saga of accusations, reconciliation efforts, and renewed discord, with every step watched closely both in Britain and abroad.

The initial rupture came with Harry and Meghan’s departure from official royal duties, which they justified as a necessary move to protect their family from intense media scrutiny and what they described as institutional neglect. The rift widened further following the release of their Netflix docuseries Harry and Meghan in 2022 and Harry’s memoir Spare in 2023, both of which laid bare grievances against the royal institution and against family members, particularly his brother, Prince William. These revelations sparked public debate on the monarchy’s relevance, accountability, and future stability.

In 2024, the tone briefly shifted when King Charles and Princess Kate were both diagnosed with cancer. Observers noted that Prince Harry appeared to ease his criticism during this period, a move interpreted as respect for the difficult circumstances facing his father and sister-in-law. However, by mid-2025, following the Duke’s unsuccessful legal appeal to retain taxpayer-funded security during his visits to Britain, Harry once again publicly expressed his frustration with the Firm. A BBC interview aired only minutes after Palace officials were made aware of it, a move that insiders described as a “stitch-up,” leaving Buckingham Palace officials deeply unsettled.

Even amid the turbulence, there have been moments of quiet diplomacy. Reports have surfaced of Harry’s aides holding discreet meetings with representatives of King Charles, with suggestions that the Duke offered to share his personal diary in order to avoid scheduling conflicts with royal events. On VJ Day, he also left a wreath and a letter in memory of his grandfather, Prince Philip, at the National Memorial Arboretum, where the King and Queen marked the 80th anniversary. Royal commentators such as former butler Grant Harrold praised this gesture as “nicely done,” hinting at the possibility of a tentative reconciliation.

Yet not all royal relationships show signs of healing. Analysts state that Harry’s feud with Prince William remains “worse than ever,” with personal and public grievances between the brothers deepening since 2020. Insiders maintain that there is little prospect of reconciliation in the near future. The tension was further underscored by resurfacing accounts of a heated argument in 2018, shortly before Harry and Meghan’s wedding, when William confronted Meghan over a comment directed at Princess Kate, a confrontation later revealed in Harry’s memoir.

Meanwhile, Meghan Markle herself continues to draw public scrutiny. Body language experts recently revisited moments from her early appearances as a royal, including the 2018 Trooping the Colour ceremony, when her smile was interpreted by some as dismissive toward Princess Charlotte. Experts now argue that such interpretations were exaggerated, reflecting the intense level of observation she faced from the beginning.

Outside of royal drama, Harry has been seen embracing a different lifestyle in California. A new video, uploaded by Meghan, showed the Duke surfing along the Pacific coast, a stark contrast to the ceremonial duties of his former royal life. Fans noted his relaxed demeanour, suggesting he has adjusted well to the freedoms of private life in Montecito.

At the same time, Meghan and Harry’s partnership with Netflix has been renewed, albeit on more modest terms. Industry experts described their latest agreement as a “first-look” deal, granting the streaming giant first rights to their proposed projects. While less lucrative than their original contract, the deal keeps their media ambitions alive, though analysts warn their continued partnership will depend heavily on their ability to deliver fresh, compelling content.

Parallel to these developments, Prince William and Princess Kate are preparing for significant personal changes. Reports indicate that the Wales family will leave Adelaide Cottage, their four-bedroom home in Windsor, for Forest Lodge, a grander eight-bedroom property within Windsor Great Park. The move, described as their “forever home,” is expected to provide both the space and privacy required for their growing family. Princess Kate, who has been recovering from her illness, is also said to have access to a vast furnishing warehouse on Windsor grounds, dubbed “California,” from which to decorate the new residence.

Meanwhile, controversies surrounding other royal figures continue to surface. Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence in the United States, recently claimed in an interview that it was Sarah Ferguson, Prince Andrew’s former wife, who had pushed for ties with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The claim adds another layer to the ongoing scrutiny over the disgraced Duke of York’s past associations, which forced him to step back from public duties years earlier.

Even King Charles himself is not spared from public anecdotes. Grant Harrold, his former butler, recalled the King’s unexpected habit of engaging staff in personal conversations during formal dinners, asking after their families in a way that often caught employees off guard. Such details provide a glimpse into the monarch’s private character, contrasting sharply with the formality of his public role.

As the Royal Family navigates these ongoing challenges, it remains at the centre of British national life, simultaneously admired, criticised, and scrutinised in equal measure. The story of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, interwoven with both conflict and gestures of reconciliation, epitomises the tensions between tradition and change that continue to define the monarchy in the 21st century.