Duke of Sussex given PR advice about what he must do to get truth and rapprochement with his estranged family
Prince Harry, who has spoken openly about his pain over the rift with his family, has now been given a clear piece of public relations advice: reconciliation will only be possible if he’s willing to utter one crucial word—“sorry”.
Recently, the Duke of Sussex expressed his deep desire to mend ties with the Royal Family in a headline-making interview with the BBC. In it, he criticised royal aides over the decision to scale back his UK police protection and admitted to being hurt that his father, King Charles, “won’t speak to me because of this security stuff”, following the court’s rejection of his appeal regarding the issue.
David Yelland, a former editor of The Sun, who is now a public relations adviser, said Harry “used the language of trauma” in the interview and showed a “sense of entitlement that the public can see”.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s When It Hits the Fan podcast, he praised the Duke as a “laudable person in many ways” but questioned the language he used in the BBC interview.
“Unfortunately, in PR, the words and language that you use are key,” said the host.
“Harry also used the word ‘reconciliation’.
“He clearly wants a rapprochement. But in order to get truth and reconciliation, you have to start to say ‘sorry’ for your part.
“The route to recovery, which is really what we’re talking about here, is that both sides, if we’re going to get anywhere, are going to have to apologise for their part in what has happened.
“I don’t see any sign of that at the moment in terms of his communications.”
Harry’s separation from the Royal Family began in 2020 when he and Meghan Markle stepped down from royal duties and relocated to California with their children, Archie and Lilibet.
Shortly after what was dubbed as Megxit, the couple gave an interview to Oprah Winfrey criticising the Royal Family and have gone on to cause further fury – most notably when the Duke released his tell-all memoir, Spare.
The book revealed the fights he had with his brother, Prince William.
Simon Lewis, who co-hosts the podcast and once served as Queen Elizabeth II’s communications secretary, described the current situation as “sad” for both Prince Harry and the Royal Family. He also stressed the importance of timing and delivery in public relations.
“Often in PR, the timing of when you say something is crucial—followed closely by how you say it,” said Lewis. “Perhaps Harry could have expressed some of his points with more finesse. A less confrontational tone might have drawn more public empathy.”
As it stands, the hope for reconciliation seems to rest not only on honest dialogue but also on a shared willingness to take responsibility for past grievances.
