Royal Rift or Royal Hypocrisy? The Unforgivable Sin of Harry and Meghan

By Julia, BBC News, 6 August 2025

What does it take to tear a family apart, to turn brothers into strangers? The saga of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, is a tragedy that continues to grip the world. Branded as “Terrible No Matter What,” they’ve been cast as villains in a royal drama where forgiveness seems a distant dream. But as the House of Windsor fractures, a question lingers: who is truly to blame for this bitter divide?

Since their departure from royal duties in 2020, Harry and Meghan have been painted as betrayers, abandoning duty for a life of “riches” in California. The narrative, relentlessly pushed, ignores the vicious campaign of lies and racism that hounded Meghan for years, allegedly fueled by those closest to the crown.

King Charles and Prince William, it’s claimed, stripped the Sussexes of security and pushed them out, yet the story spun is that Harry and Meghan alone are at fault. Why? Because they dared to walk away.

A so-called “secret peace summit” in London, involving the King’s press secretary and Sussex media executives, has sparked whispers of reconciliation. King Charles, described as a “deeply loving and forgiving father,” might be open to mending ties with his son. But for Prince William and Kate, forgiveness is unthinkable.

Roll back to 2018, when the “Fab Four”—William, Kate, Harry, and Meghan—symbolized a modern monarchy. Two years later, the Sussexes’ exit left gaps in the royal calendar, forcing the late Queen, Princess Anne, and others to shoulder heavier loads. William and Kate, juggling young children, stepped up too—but at what cost?

The real sting came in 2024. King Charles’s cancer diagnosis shocked the nation, followed by Kate’s own battle with the disease. As she stepped back for treatment, William carried on, his burden heavier without Harry.

Critics ask: where was Harry’s conscience? Could he not see his brother’s struggle? Yet, this narrative conveniently sidesteps William’s own choices—a “half-in, half-out” life of extended vacations while expecting Harry to return and ease his load. Is it fair to vilify a man for building a life with his family, far from a toxic environment?

William’s anger, sources say, has turned to indifference. Harry, once his closest ally, “no longer exists” for him. But why such rage? William, with a staff of 60 and every privilege, seems less burdened by duty than by resentment.

His brother’s happiness, Meghan’s resilience—these are the true affronts. The royal rift reveals a deeper truth: a monarchy clinging to control, unable to forgive those who choose freedom over obligation.