Columnist Jenni Murray writes that Prince Harry’s recent return to the UK and his upbeat public appearances appear to have softened attitudes among some members of the royal family and the British public, and she urges the duke to make specific moves to repair family relationships.
In her Daily Mail column published Wednesday, Murray said Harry’s “cheeky, bright smile” and visits to charitable causes created the impression of the “old Harry” and that the duke had kept private the contents of a meeting she said took place at Clarence House with King Charles. Murray credited Harry’s public demeanour with winning favourable reactions in Britain and cited royal commentator Tina Brown’s observation that Charles is currently “less irritated” with Harry than with William.
Murray described a series of engagements she said Harry carried out during his visit, including appearances linked to the Diana Award charity, the Invictus Games community and a stop in Nottingham where she said he helped raise what she reported as £1.1 million for Children in Need. She also referenced a private tea at Clarence House that, she wrote, appeared to go well and remained confidential between the king and the duke.
Much of Murray’s column framed the situation through the lens of sibling dynamics, contrasting what she called the “conscientious, diligent” older son with the more relaxed, charming second son. She argued that the rift between William and Harry has been widened by the duke’s public disclosures in his memoir Spare and by interviews in which, Murray wrote, Harry said he had “no conscience” about sharing family details. Murray said an apology and a renewed commitment to family contact — including bringing Harry’s children to meet their grandfather and cousins — would be essential steps toward reconciliation.
Murray also suggested direct personal gestures, writing that Harry should visit William and Catherine in person and apologise “on bended knee” for slights she attributed to comments made by Harry and Meghan. She urged King Charles to make clear to both brothers how much he needs them amid his illness, and wrote that shared responsibility between the siblings could help mend the relationship.
Beyond the royal family, Murray used the column to comment on a range of cultural subjects. She described a giant pumpkin grown in Surrey, wrote in positive terms about a staging of the musical The Producers, and celebrated the British cast members of the drama Adolescence after its success at the Emmy Awards, including wins she highlighted for Erin Doherty, Stephen Graham and Owen Cooper. Murray also contrasted two public demonstrations of national pride that she said took place the previous Saturday: a rally organised by the far-right activist Tommy Robinson that ended in violence, and the Last Night of the Proms, which she described as a “joyful triumph.”
Murray’s column, published in the Daily Mail, presents her personal reading of recent royal dynamics and her recommendations for steps she believes could restore family unity. The piece combines observations about the duke’s public appearances with prescriptive appeals for apology and rapprochement, and places those recommendations alongside cultural commentary on theatre, television and public events.