Sources close to Harry and Meghan call apology-to-William report 'total rubbish'

A tabloid report that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were preparing to apologize to Prince William and Princess Kate over their 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview lasted less than 24 hours before sources close to the couple and royal journalists lined up to knock it down.

On October 6, the Daily Express reported that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex planned to 'express their regrets' to the Prince and Princess of Wales — specifically over Meghan's disclosure that a senior royal had raised concerns about how dark their son Archie's skin might be before his birth. By October 7, People, Page Six, and others were reporting the opposite.

It is total rubbish.— Tom Sykes, royal journalist and author of 'The Dukes'

Harry has always said he will never apologize for anything.— Tom Sykes, royal journalist and author of 'The Dukes'

A source close to the Sussexes told People the report was 'nonsense,' according to Marie Claire. Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield, host of the 'Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered' podcast, was equally direct.

Prince Harry and Meghan remain defiant. My own sources have told me this story is absolutely not true.— Kinsey Schofield, royal commentator

If anything, the pattern has remained consistent. I would treat claims that they now regret Oprah and are preparing to 'eat crow' with serious skepticism.— Kinsey Schofield, royal commentator

An anonymous insider quoted heavily in the Express claimed the Oprah interview stood as the couple's 'one big regret about leaving the royal family,' adding that Harry and Meghan 'know they're hot-headed and realize they took things too far,' and that Meghan in particular would apologize in a sit-down with William and Kate. Page Six noted that the writer understands the Sussexes 'harbor zero regret' over the interview.

The two-hour CBS special, broadcast in March 2021, remains one of the most consequential moments in recent royal history. Meghan said she had experienced suicidal thoughts while a working royal and did not receive the help she sought. She also said it was Kate who made her cry during wedding preparations — not the other way around, as British press had reported. When the question of Archie's skin color arose, neither Harry nor Meghan identified the family member involved. Harry addressed the exchange directly at the time, saying: 'That conversation I am never going to share, but at the time it was awkward; I was a bit shocked.' He has since maintained that the remarks were not meant as an accusation of racism against the royal family, but rather as an observation about what he described as unconscious bias.

The rumor took hold in the context of the Sussexes' return to the United Kingdom in August, after six years in Montecito, California. The couple said they moved back so their children — Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5 — could grow up British and attend school there. Before relocating, the family traveled to see King Charles III in July — a visit that, according to the New York Daily News as cited by ibtimes.com.au, was the first in four years to include Meghan and the children. A statement from King Charles, 77, who has been undergoing treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer since early 2024, made clear that Harry and Meghan remain private citizens with no official royal responsibilities.

Since returning, the couple has kept a low profile. A joint outing to The Falkland Arms, a pub in the Cotswolds village of Great Tew in Oxfordshire, marked their first public appearance together since the move, according to ibtimes.com.au. Reports have placed them living in the Cotswolds. While Harry has maintained some contact with his father, the relationship with William remains frozen. According to ibtimes.com.au, the last time the brothers appeared together in public was in August 2024, at the funeral of their uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes, an occasion on which they did not interact. William and Kate are said to regard the Oprah interview as a betrayal of trust, and both have largely refrained from commenting publicly on the Sussexes since their return.

Harry has spoken openly about his desire to mend ties with his family. After losing a court appeal over his security arrangements in Britain, he told the BBC in May 2025 that he hoped for reconciliation and acknowledged uncertainty about how much time his father had left. One possible future moment of contact: Marie Claire reports that a memorial service for Princess Diana — marking the 30th anniversary of her death — is being considered, with both brothers potentially in attendance. Columnist Ephraim Hardcastle, cited by Marie Claire via the Daily Mail, said: 'While the boys seem to have rejected any chance of working together, the religious event might help heal the rift.'

Why it matters — The episode illustrates how the Sussex-Wales estrangement continues to generate tabloid speculation — and how quickly those claims can be contested — as the couple's return to Britain keeps the question of royal reconciliation in the public eye.

Sources differ on Whether Harry and Meghan plan to apologize to William and Kate: Yes — the couple plans a sit-down to 'express their regrets,' with Meghan set to apologize, per an anonymous insider. (Daily Express (as cited by pagesix.com, marieclaire.com, ibtimes.com.au)) vs No — a source close to the Sussexes calls the report 'nonsense'; royal journalist Tom Sykes calls it 'total rubbish'; Kinsey Schofield says her sources confirm it is 'absolutely not true.' (pagesix.com, marieclaire.com, ibtimes.com.au)

Reported by people.com, pagesix.com, newsnationnow.com, instyle.com, ibtimes.com.au, marieclaire.com, parade.com