Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have reportedly ruled out apologising to Prince William and Kate Middleton over their explosive Oprah Winfrey interview, despite fresh claims the couple were preparing to make amends.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have found themselves at the centre of conflicting reports about their relationship with the royal family, five years after their bombshell television appearance sent shockwaves through the monarchy.
While one report suggested the couple were ready to admit they had gone too far, royal insiders have dismissed the claims, insisting Prince Harry and Meghan remain unapologetic.
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“It is total rubbish,” royal journalist Tom Sykes told Page Six on Wednesday.
The author of The Dukes was equally emphatic about Prince Harry’s position.
“Harry has always said he will never apologise for anything.”
Mr Sykes also indicated the Sussexes have no regrets about the controversial 2021 interview, which exposed deeply personal tensions within the royal family.
Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield backed up that assessment, questioning suggestions that the couple were preparing to extend an olive branch to William and Kate.
“Prince Harry and Meghan remain defiant,” the “Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered” podcast host told the outlet on Wednesday.
“My own sources have told me this story is absolutely not true.”
Ms Schofield said there was little reason to believe the couple had experienced a sudden change of heart.
“If anything, the pattern has remained consistent,” she said.
“I would treat claims that they now regret Oprah and are preparing to ‘eat crow’ with serious skepticism.”
Conflicting claims over royal reconciliation
The denials follow a Daily Express report on Tuesday suggesting Prince Harry and Meghan were planning to acknowledge the damage caused by their interview with Winfrey as part of efforts to rebuild their relationship with the royal family.
According to an unnamed source quoted by the publication, the Sussexes understood that repairing their relationship with Prince William and Princess Kate would require a significant concession.
“Harry and Meghan have always known since they decided to return to the UK that they would need to eat humble pie,” the source claimed.
“Their one big regret about leaving the royal family for the US was their interview with Oprah, and Meghan knows her biggest mistake was her claim that a royal family member had discussed Archie’s skin color,” the source continued.
The insider alleged Prince Harry’s anger towards his family had influenced the couple’s decision to speak publicly, but claimed they had since reconsidered their approach.
“But they now realize what a low blow it was. They both know they’re hot-headed and realize they took things too far,” the source said.
The report suggested the couple hoped to arrange a private meeting with the Prince and Princess of Wales.
“They want to focus on the future, and are hoping that will include a reconciliation at some point,” the insider said.
“They really want a sit-down so they can address what they said, and Meghan will apologize.”
However, those claims have now been directly challenged by royal commentators, leaving the prospect of an apology firmly in dispute.
The interview that rocked the royal family
Prince Harry and Meghan’s televised conversation with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021 marked one of the most damaging public episodes in the modern royal family’s history.
During the two-hour CBS special, the couple made a series of allegations about their treatment within the monarchy after stepping away from official royal duties.
Meghan alleged there had been conversations within the family about how dark their son Archie’s skin might be before he was born.
Prince Harry declined to identify the person involved or reveal further details.
“That conversation I am never going to share, but at the time it was awkward; I was a bit shocked,” he said.
Meghan also alleged she had been told Archie would not receive a royal title or security protection.
In another deeply personal revelation, she disclosed experiencing suicidal thoughts during her time as a working royal.
The Duchess also disputed reports that she had made Kate cry in the lead-up to her wedding, instead claiming the reverse had happened.
The interview intensified an already strained relationship between the Sussexes and the wider royal family, particularly William and Kate.
King Charles opens door as William rift remains
Prince Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior working royals in 2020 before establishing a new life in Montecito, California, with their children Archie and Lilibet.
In August 2026, the couple reportedly made the surprise decision to return to the United Kingdom after six years living in the United States.
Their return prompted fresh speculation about whether the family could finally begin repairing its fractured relationships.
King Charles, 77, subsequently clarified that Prince Harry and Meghan would remain private citizens and would not resume official royal duties.
The Sussexes have since largely stayed out of the spotlight, although they have been photographed enjoying quiet outings in the Cotswolds, where they are reportedly living.
While reports suggest King Charles may be increasingly open to rebuilding ties with his younger son, the relationship between Prince Harry and Prince William appears considerably more difficult to repair.
