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Prince Harry is feeling ‘regrets’ over his explosive memoir, Spare, as he and Meghan Markle are hoping to build bridges with the royal family this year, a source says
It’s been two years since the publication of Prince Harry’s bombshell book Spare . A global sensation when it first hit shelves on 10 January 2023, it swiftly became the fastest-selling book in history. From arguments to tragic admissions, unexpected romances and even talk of “brainwashing”, Prince Harry’s explosive memoir was quite a blow to the royal family.
In its pages, damaging claims included that his brother William said he was going “too fast” with Meghan, that King Charles had told him there wasn’t “enough money” in the pot to financially support her, and that there was a furious row between Kate and Meghan over a bridesmaid dress fitting.
So, what has changed since then? According to a source, there is an element of regret when it comes to the prince’s tell-all memoir. “Although Harry is glad he finally got his say on everything that went on with Spare , there is part of him that has some regrets over it all and the way it was handled,” they claim.
“He was still very angry about how he was treated by his family and wanted them to know and felt his book was the only way they’d listen. “But looking back, he’s not sure it was handled in the right way and he has faced a lot of criticism for it and hurt his family a lot.”
Although the anger which led to Harry, 40, and his wife Meghan quitting the royal family and beginning afresh in California hasn’t disappeared, it would seem there is a new focus this year – and it is about restoring relations with his family across the pond.
“Harry still wants to have a relationship with them and is hoping that in 2025, he can make that happen,” adds the source. “A lot has gone on since Spare was released and he didn’t update the paperback version – so he is hopeful he can repair the relationship.”
While Harry may feel he just wants to move on, his wife may have other plans – that could involve telling her side of the story. The source says, “Meghan has had many offers to write her own book and she’s still considering them.
“She doesn’t have the loyalty Harry has and would happily write about her experiences – but she is also aware that dragging up the past could cause another backlash and lose her even more public support.” The health struggles faced by the Princess of Wales and King Charles – who both underwent cancer treatment last year – has also brought the couple’s forward-thinking stance into sharp focus. “Kate and Charles’ health battles have made them both re-evaluate things,” said the source.
“Meghan has admiration for how Kate handled things, especially with young children. She has also done things her way and not bowed down to public pressure, putting her family and health first, something Meghan admires.”
Kate’s Christmas carol concert was a heartwarming display of family togetherness, something which was not lost on the couple who, in the States, do not have a wide circle of support outside of Meghan’s mum Doria.
Their own children, Archie and Lillibet, barely know their English family, while Kate and William’s three children, George, Charlotte and Louis, have grown up in the bosom of the royal family.
“She and Harry both saw pictures of the carol concert and of the royals at Christmas and do have regrets about things – especially that they don’t have a relationship with Harry’s family,” claims the source. “It hurts to see all the kids getting on, while their little ones don’t really know their cousins or extended family.
“They want to make changes – but they have to work together as a team and both feel comfortable with what they’re doing.” The year ahead, reports suggest, could also see Meghan make a spectacular return to public life. And something which signals the beginning of that is the relaunch of her Instagram page.
After several years away from the social media platform, the mother-of-two returned to her personal page on New Year’s Day with a new video post filmed by husband Harry. In the video, which takes place on the beachfront near their Montecito home, barefoot Meghan can be seen running towards the ocean before writing “2025” in the sand and giggling.
The 43-year-old had been keeping a relatively low profile recently, attending a handful of events without her husband.
But behind the scenes she is thought to be working hard on her brand American Riviera Orchard and a new Netflix show around “cooking, gardening and entertaining”. And despite having held her Instagram account since 2022, the return marks Meghan’s first post to her more than 760K followers. While she was yet to follow anyone back, it seems 2025 could be a year of change in all areas.
So perhaps this is the year Harry and Meghan let bygones be bygones and focus not only on their careers, but on making peace with the royal family.
The source claims, “Harry has wanted a family reunion for a couple of years and Meghan has been more reluctant. “But she knows life is short and maybe they should finally start building bridges.”