While Prince Harry is reconnecting with his father, King Charles, in an attempt to repair their fractured bond, his relationship with Prince William and Kate Middleton remains strained.
“There is still ongoing tension with William and Kate,” a source exclusively shared with Us Weekly. “They are deeply hurt by the public disclosures, memoir revelations and interviews and criticisms of their roles, which they perceive as breaches of trust that require significant time to heal from, which is why they aren’t there yet.”
Harry, 41, had the opportunity to reunite with his estranged father, 76, after nearly two years apart on Wednesday, September 10, during a solo trip to London. An insider exclusively told Us that their long-awaited meeting was “super positive and very relaxed.”
While some royal watchers were hopeful the Duke of Sussex would connect with his brother and sister-in-law during his recent trip across the pond, a source said their schedules were “not aligned while Harry was in London.”
Several royal experts have thoughts on the future of Prince Harry and Prince William’s relationship, and it seems there’s no faith for a reconciliation between the brothers. “The rift is very profound and very long-lasting,” British historian Robert Lacey told People in their royal family cover story released on Tuesday, August 12. “It will not […]
“There has also been no direct communication between aides like there has been with Charles,” the source continued. “William and Kate haven’t initiated or responded to outreach from Harry at all. They do need more time.”
Harry’s fallout with his brother and father hit a fever pitch in 2020, when the Duke of Sussex and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped away from their duties as senior members of the royal family.
After the pair moved to Montecito, California, Harry published a tell-all memoir, Spare, which reportedly further angered members of his family.
“There’s emotional distance between the three of them,” a source said of Harry, William and Kate’s dynamics. “There are lingering resentments of past conflicts, including Harry’s comments about Kate in his book. It left William guarded and needing more time to process before a face-to-face with Harry.”
Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
In Spare, Harry spoke positively about Kate, calling his sister-in-law “carefree, sweet [and] kind.” At the same time, he expressed his fears of losing William to Kate.
“In my gut, I couldn’t help feeling that this was yet another farewell under this horrid roof. Another sundering,” he wrote. “The brother I’d escorted into Westminster Abbey that morning was gone — forever.”
Harry’s book also raised eyebrows with royal watchers when he wrote about Kate apologizing to Meghan for making her cry.
There were also stories of The Prince and Princess of Wales being upset about Easter gift exchanges, Kate’s feelings being hurt when Meghan said she had “baby brain” and Kate “reluctantly” pulling out her lipstick to help Meghan.
“Small clash of styles, maybe?” Harry wrote. “Something we should’ve been able to laugh about soon after. But it left a little mark.”
Prince William and Prince Harry grew up side by side, playing on the manicured grounds of Kensington Palace as children and later attending the prestigious Eton College before they both went off to serve in the armed forces. In 2020, their paths famously and dramatically diverged when Harry left his royal post for the luxe […]
The source said there is still “hope” for a meeting between the brothers during the upcoming holiday season, but it’s still too soon to tell.
“They will see how things pan out with what Charles and Harry discussed,” the source explained. “One of the things was to keep his mouth shut and not talk to the press, and for Meghan to do the same. Once William and Kate can trust again, they may be able to come back into his life.”
Us has reached out to Harry and William’s teams for comment.
