Prince Harry‘s blistering response to his court defeat in a privacy case against a U.K. newspaper publisher might have been celebrated by his supporters, but a former palace staffer believes it could make repairing relations with the royal family even harder.
After the Duke of Sussex publicly blasted a British judge’s decision to dismiss his unlawful information gathering lawsuit against Associated Newspapers Limited, the publisher of the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday — comments some critical social media users branded a “meltdown” — former royal butler Grant Harrold warned that Harry’s pointed remarks could have lasting consequences.
“Prince Harry has basically aired his dirty laundry in public — again,” Harrold told OLBG, as reported by Britain’s Daily Express. “This has turned it from a private issue into a public one. This will have a bigger impact than just a bit of upset for this visit.”
According to Harrold, “The palace will not be happy at all. It’s going to make things even more difficult for Harry in the longer term. And I think this could be irreversible.”
Harrold worked for King Charles III from 2004 to 2011, when the monarch was still the Prince of Wales, and has since become an etiquette expert and author, publishing The Royal Butler: My Remarkable Life of Royal Service in 2025.
Prince Harry’s criticism of the court sparks fresh backlash
On July 7, High Court Judge Matthew Nicklin dismissed the claims brought by Harry and other high-profile figures — including Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley, Sadie Frost and Baroness Doreen Lawrence — in a 436-page judgment following a 10-week trial earlier this year.
In his ruling, Nicklin acknowledged Harry’s concerns but concluded the evidence fell short.
“I accept that he found the article intrusive and was genuinely concerned by how journalists appeared to know private information concerning his relationships. But suspicion, even understandable suspicion, is not proof,” the judge wrote.
Harry wasn’t willing to let the decision stand without a fight.
In a lengthy joint statement with Lawrence issued hours after the verdict, the pair accused the court of delivering “a complete and obvious whitewash” and argued they had been denied “justice and accountability.”
‘William will be furious’
Harrold believes Harry’s comments are unlikely to improve relations with his older brother, Prince William, from whom he’s been estranged for years.
The former royal butler said Harry’s decision to publicly criticize the ruling sends a message that “Harry still isn’t willing to play by the rules” and is “still happy to put out statements criticizing them.”
According to Harrold, “William will be furious. It’s just more drama that I believe he just wants to leave in the past.”
King Charles opens the door to peace
Charles, however, appears more willing to move forward.
After weeks of speculation about whether the Sussexes might reunite with the king when Harry was in Britain for 2027 Invictus Games one-year countdown events in Birmingham, England, Harry, his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, privately met with Charles and Queen Camilla.
On July 10, the Sussexes joined the king and queen at the monarch’s country home, Highgrove, for a private reunion — Archie and Lili’s first in-person visit with their grandfather in four years.
Buckingham Palace confirmed the meeting but released no photographs or additional details.
The Prince and Princess of Wales aren’t ready to reconcile
While Charles has seemingly left the door open to rebuilding his relationship with Harry, royal commentators believe the Duke of Sussex still has a much steeper climb when it comes to his brother and sister-in-law.
Several royal experts recently told Fox News Digital they don’t expect William or Kate Middleton to follow suit anytime soon.
“King Charles has always been hopeful regarding a form of reconciliation, while Prince William remains resolute in opposition to any such thawing,” royal expert Hilary Fordwich told the outlet.
British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard echoed that view, claiming, “The feeling inside the Wales camp is that Catherine will not allow her family, and especially William, to be sucked back into the Sussex drama.”