Princess Anne Viewed As Prince Harry And Meghan Markle’s Biggest Ally In Royal Family Reconciliation
Princess Anne is being viewed as a potential key ally for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as they attempt to rebuild family ties, with the Princess Royal having previously warned the younger generation of royals against trying to “reinvent the wheel.”
The Princess Royal made the pointed comment shortly after Harry and Meghan relocated to the United States following their decision to step down as senior working royals. At the time, Anne spoke about the younger generation taking a different approach to royal philanthropy.
“Please do not reinvent that particular wheel,” she said, a remark that has since been viewed as particularly relevant to the Sussexes’ journey away from royal life.
Now, Anne’s nephew has returned to Britain with Meghan and their children for an extended stay, prompting speculation about whether the King’s only sister could play a role in helping the Sussexes find a path towards the wider royal family.
Royal commentator Katie Nicholl has suggested that Anne could be among the family members best placed to understand the situation, particularly because of her longstanding relationship with Harry and her relatively direct approach to royal life.
Speaking to HELLO!, Nicholl recalled an interview she conducted with Anne in 2020, shortly after Megxit, saying the Princess Royal had delivered what appeared to be a “coded message” about the younger royals choosing to do things differently.
“It’s all very well the new younger royals doing things differently, but they shouldn’t try and reinvent the wheel,” Nicholl said, describing the message she believed Anne had conveyed during that period.
The royal expert suggested that Anne may not be surprised by Harry and Meghan’s latest circumstances, arguing that she could have anticipated some of the difficulties they would encounter after leaving Britain and establishing a new life in America.
“I think she will be one who has sort of sat back, predicted all of this,” Nicholl said, adding that Anne may not have been surprised to see the Sussexes returning after their experiences in the United States.
Nicholl also believes that Anne could follow the example of Queen Elizabeth II by taking a magnanimous and forgiving approach towards Harry, describing the Princess Royal as “a good aunt” in that respect.
Harry has previously recalled a significant moment involving Anne following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. After arriving at Balmoral, he said it was his aunt who greeted him and offered him the opportunity to see her.
“I walked into the hall, and my aunt was there to greet me. And she asked me if I wanted to see her,” Harry recalled during an interview with 60 Minutes, offering a glimpse into their relationship during an extremely difficult period.
Harry has also spoken about his desire to reconcile with his family, expressing that wish more than a year before his latest extended stay in Britain. He has acknowledged, however, that rebuilding trust could be difficult given everything that has happened.
Despite the wider royal rift, Harry has generally been seen as having a positive relationship with Anne. His memoir Spare also contained no major personal attack on his aunt, something that has been interpreted by some as evidence of a degree of private trust between them.
Anne’s absence from Harry’s most controversial memoir revelations has therefore continued to attract attention, with speculation that the Duke may still regard his aunt as someone he can trust and confide in. If Harry and Meghan are genuinely seeking a route towards reconciliation, the Princess Royal’s influence could prove valuable.
