Should you try to repair a family rift or just let go?
When Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, stood down as a senior royal in 2020, the Windsor family fractured. Since then, Harry has moved across the world from the royals, a controversial tell-all memoir betrayed their trust, and a legal dispute over security further deepened the rift.
However, in an interview with the BBC this month, Harry revealed he wants to mend his relationship with his family.
'I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point continuing to fight any more, life is precious,' the prince said, adding that he doesn't know how much time he has left with his father, King Charles III.
Meanwhile, the notable absence of Brooklyn Peltz Beckham and his wife, Nicola Peltz Beckham, from pictures of David Beckham's 50th birthday celebrations on May 3 has raised questions about the state of relationships in football's royal family. While none of the Beckhams have formally addressed reporting about a family rift, the speculation has proved a reminder that all families are complicated, from the rich and famous to the everyday.
About one in 25 Australians have been estranged from their family at some point in their lives. And according to a Relationships Australia report published last year, 23 per cent of respondents said different values or beliefs were placing pressure on their relationships – up from 12 per cent in 2022.
If Prince Harry wants to mend fences, chances are others do, too. But can a broken family really be repaired?
Why are family rifts so common?
Family relationships are foundational, emotionally charged and often expected to endure, says Australian Psychological Society president Sara Quinn. This can create pressure around maintaining them, and particular pain if they break down.
'Families are where we first learn about love, identity and belonging. When these expectations are repeatedly unmet or violated, rifts and estrangement can follow,' she says.
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