Prince Harry’s renewed connection with Britain appears to have done little to repair his long-running disagreements with the Royal Family. Despite spending several years away from the United Kingdom and building a new life in California, the Duke of Sussex is reportedly still carrying much of the anger and frustration that contributed to his decision to step away from royal duties.

According to royal commentator Charlotte Griffiths, Harry’s feelings towards the institution remain remarkably similar to those he held when he left the UK in 2020. His return to Britain may have created expectations that time and distance would soften his position, but those hopes have apparently not been fulfilled.

The situation has become even more complicated following a recent communication from King Charles III concerning Harry and Meghan Markle’s status. The couple were reportedly reminded that they are now considered private citizens and no longer represent the monarchy in an official capacity.

The message appears to have reinforced the boundaries surrounding Harry and Meghan’s relationship with the institution. Rather than signalling a return to their former responsibilities, it underlined the fact that their departure from working royal life remains permanent.

Griffiths discussed Harry’s current mindset during an episode of The Royalist podcast on September 8. She suggested that, emotionally, Harry has not moved very far from the position he occupied when he and Meghan left the UK several years ago.

The royal commentator claimed that Harry’s outlook is still strongly influenced by the events surrounding “Megxit” in 2020. Although the Duke has experienced significant changes in his personal and professional life since then, his feelings towards the Royal Family are reportedly still dominated by unresolved grievances.

This development is said to have disappointed some of Harry’s former friends and acquaintances in Britain. People who once belonged to his wider social circle apparently hoped that several years of living far from the royal environment would allow him to gain a different perspective.

Harry and Meghan moved to the United States after stepping down as senior working royals. They eventually settled in California, where they established a new home and pursued a range of commercial, charitable and media projects.

During those years, Harry remained physically distant from many of the people and institutions involved in his former life. For some of his old friends, that separation offered the possibility that he might eventually return to Britain with a more relaxed attitude.

There had reportedly been hopes that Harry would come back as a calmer and more reflective person, perhaps ready to acknowledge the difficulties of the past and rebuild relationships with those he had become estranged from.

Instead, Griffiths suggested that his attitude appears to remain highly critical of the institution.

She described the situation as disappointing for people in Harry’s former circles who had imagined that he might return to Britain appearing more approachable, contrite and willing to repair old relationships.

The royal expert’s comments suggest that, despite the passage of time, Harry’s frustration with the monarchy remains a significant part of his outlook.

The Duke’s relationship with his father, King Charles, does appear to have improved to some extent. Recent contact between the two has reportedly been warmer than in previous years, particularly as the King has faced ongoing health concerns.

Harry and Meghan’s relationship with Charles appeared to receive a boost following a meeting between the Duke and his father at Highgrove, the King’s country residence, in July.

The meeting was significant because it provided an opportunity for father and son to spend time together after a prolonged period of tension and limited contact.

Another important element was the opportunity for Charles to see Harry and Meghan’s children, Archie and Lilibet. The King had reportedly not seen them since 2022, making their reunion an emotionally significant moment for the family.

Despite this apparent improvement in Harry’s relationship with his father, the situation with other senior members of the Royal Family remains considerably more difficult.

In particular, there appears to be little expectation of a reconciliation between Harry and his older brother, Prince William.

Griffiths claimed that Harry may now feel closer to Charles than he once did, but she saw virtually no evidence that the same progress had been made with William.

The relationship between the two brothers has deteriorated substantially since Harry and Meghan left royal duties. Their disagreements have played out partly in public, with Harry discussing family tensions in interviews, documentaries and his memoir.

William, meanwhile, has largely maintained a more restrained public position and has continued carrying out his responsibilities as the heir to the throne.

The contrast between the brothers has made reconciliation particularly difficult.

Harry’s reported plans to spend more time in Britain have also created speculation about whether he might eventually rebuild a stronger connection with his home country. However, the royal expert’s comments suggest that returning geographically has not necessarily meant returning emotionally to the life he left behind.

The couple’s reported decision to move back to Britain came after signs of improved communication between Harry and his father. Their meeting at Highgrove was viewed by some observers as evidence that relations between the two men were beginning to thaw.

However, the circumstances surrounding the couple’s reported plans also attracted attention. Charles was said to have received only limited advance notice of their intentions, with reports suggesting that he learned about the proposed move just days before the wider public became aware of it.

That detail illustrates the complicated nature of the Sussexes’ relationship with the wider Royal Family. While communication with Charles may have become more cordial, there remains a significant lack of trust and coordination between the two sides.

The latest description of Harry as an angry and unhappy figure therefore represents a striking contrast to expectations that time might have healed some of the divisions.

Six years have passed since Harry and Meghan stepped away from their official roles. During that period, they have built a life thousands of miles away from Britain, raised their children in California and established an independent public identity.

Yet according to Griffiths, the fundamental grievances that influenced Harry’s departure have not disappeared.

The Duke’s continuing frustration may also explain why discussions about his status within the monarchy remain so sensitive. Being formally recognised as a private citizen reinforces the reality that Harry is no longer an official representative of the Crown.

For Harry, however, the issue is more complicated because he remains the son of the King and a member of the wider Royal Family. His personal connection to the monarchy therefore continues even though his institutional role has changed.

His relationship with Charles appears to have benefited from recent contact, but that improvement has not extended across the rest of the family.

William remains a particularly difficult relationship, and there appears to be little indication that the brothers are close to resolving their differences.

For those who once hoped that Harry’s years in California would lead to a significant change in his attitude, the latest assessment is disappointing.

Rather than returning to Britain as a completely transformed figure, Harry is reportedly still dealing with many of the same emotions that surrounded his departure in 2020.

There may be signs of greater warmth between Harry and his father, particularly as Charles has faced personal challenges, but the wider family rift remains firmly in place.

Ultimately, Harry’s return to Britain may have changed the frequency and nature of his contact with the Royal Family, but it has not erased the conflicts of the past. His relationship with Charles appears to be moving in a more positive direction, yet his relationship with William remains deeply strained.

As Griffiths suggested, the situation currently looks less like a dramatic royal reconciliation and more like a continuation of the unresolved tensions that have existed for years.

For the moment, the Duke of Sussex appears to occupy an uncertain position: closer to his father than he once was, but still separated from the institution and deeply distant from his brother. Despite the passage of time, the wounds created by the events of 2020 have apparently not fully healed.