Doubt has been cast on Prince Harry’s chances of reconciliation with his estranged brother Prince William, as the ongoing rift between the royals continues.
According to sources, the Duke of Sussex has declared that he would “only return to royal duties” if he “receives an apology from William”.
Those close to Harry had also been forced to rule out a definite UK return for the California-bound Prince, despite other sources telling the Mail on Sunday that he has been “exploring options” with former UK aides about a “part-time return” to the fold.
Speaking to GB News, former Senior Royal Gardener at Highgrove House Jack Stooks questioned “what William needs to apologise for” in light of the latest reports.
Prince Harry has demanded an apology from brother Prince William if he is to return to royal duties
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Stooks told GB News: “Why should William apologise? What is he apologising for? This is one of the big questions about this.
“We’re hearing that this is from an old confidant, and yet nobody’s saying ‘oh, it’s actually this person’. But I do feel that there’s probably apologies needed from both sides.”
Noting the decision for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to step away from the Royal Family in 2020, Stooks said that there is “always more sides to the story” when it comes to things such as a royal falling out.
Stooks explained: “We see that Harry decided to leave, Harry decided to write a book – everything is Harry, but there’s a lot more to to it, and there is always more sides to the story.
Prince Harry and Prince William were briefly reunited last week at their uncle Lord Robert Fellowes’s funeral
PA
“It’s a bit like a diamond with all the facets, there’s so much more going on that none of us actually know.”
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Offering his verdict on Prince Harry, host Mark Dolan argued that Prince Harry has “thrown his family and his country under the bus”, and so has more reason to apologise and reconcile with his family.
In defence of Harry, Stooks responded: “I think at the time he just wanted everybody to hear his side of the story, and he probably felt a little bit disgruntled with things happening the way they were happening.
“This is someone we all absolutely adored, and suddenly he was the most hated person in Britain. And it must be quite hard for anybody to have that happen to them. So I think that’s where probably the book and Netflix show came from.”
Making clear that he is “not completely on Harry’s side” with how the royal has dealt with things after leaving the Royal Family, Stooks added that the Duke “probably did it for a reason that we don’t quite know or fully understand”.
Jack Stooks says Prince Harry ‘probably released his book and Netflix show for a reason’
GB News
Turning the discussion to Prince Harry and William’s secret UK reunion in Norfolk for the funeral of their uncle Lord Robert Fellowes, host Dawn Neesom questioned why Harry chose to stay with his other uncle Earl Spencer instead of King Charles or another member of the Royal Family.
Stooks suggested: “Maybe he was not invited, if the King is in Scotland at Balmoral, there may not have been that possibility for him to go and see family.
“He may have thought, well if I’m up in Norfolk, I might as well go and see my mum’s brother.
“The Earl is just currently going through a divorce, so Harry might have gone to show some support to him.”
