By Katherine Tinsley
9:58am PST, Jan 19, 2026
_
Prince Harry publicly left the royal family in 2020, but his highly publicized exit had a lasting impact on the royal family's public image.
"If those who seek to shape the royal family's image and commercial appeal — and who talk about 'Brand Windsor' and 'The Firm' — want to succeed in a multimedia landscape, they would do well to put their arms around Harry again," columnist
Simon Kelner told the
i Paper.
_
"Like all the world's great brands, the Windsors need to extend their relevance across all demographics, particularly a younger one," Simon Kelner continued.
_
Since leaving the U.K.,
Prince Harry's relationship with
King Charles III and
Prince William was greatly impacted. However, the Duke of Sussex's strengths as a public figure could be an asset to the monarchy.
"Harry can do that by speaking to an audience that is deaf to the stentorian tones of speeches at Windsor Castle,"
Simon Kelner noted. "He can speak the language of TikTok as confidently as King Charles can speak German."
_
"I guarantee there will be those in power who recognize this and will be keenly anticipating the day when
Prince Harry is welcomed back into the fold," Simon Kelner
continued.
_
Despite Simon Kelner's suggestion,
Prince Harry made it clear that he doesn't want to be a working royal anymore.
"I would like to get my father back; I would like to have my brother back," the Duke of Sussex told ITV. "I want a family, not an institution."
