Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton are apparently doing their best to ignore the return of Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, to the U.K., even as their new proximity amplifies the brothers’ rift.
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“It’s been magnified,” a palace insider told People of the siblings’ distance, one of several royal experts interviewed by the magazine for a cover story. “When they were in California, and you gazed through the looking glass, you couldn’t see it so well, but it is right back in front of them.”
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The brothers have not been on speaking terms for some time, and William is reportedly dead set against ever reconciling with Harry. King Charles has indicated he would like to see them heal their relationship.
Their estrangement deepened after an explosive interview Harry and Meghan gave to Oprah Winfrey detailing her tumultuous time within the royal family between their 2018 wedding and their departure two years later. The 2023 release of Harry’s memoir, “Spare,” compounded the situation, although he said he excluded certain personal details about his brother and father out of respect and the desire to preserve their future relationship.
It may not have worked.
“William’s view is clear — any relationship his father has with Harry or the Sussexes as a family is entirely up to him,” “William and Catherine” author Russell Myers told People. “But looking toward the future, he will have no relationship with them, in a working or private capacity whatsoever.”
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Both Harry and William are focusing on their respective families for the moment. Markle celebrated Harry’s 42nd birthday on Monday with a video tribute full of family scenes, while Kate and William are adjusting to a partially empty nest after bringing the eldest of their three children, 13-year-old Prince George, to Eton College last week, People reported.
“They see it as a sideshow and ancient history,” royal author Simon Vigar told People of Kate and William’s attitude and desire to “keep calm and carry on,” in keeping with the famed British motto, noting that this strategy may be difficult to maintain amid constant media scrutiny of the brothers’ relationship.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their return to the U.K. last month after six years living in California following their renouncement of official royal duties in 2020. Their motive was schooling for their two children, 7-year-old Prince Archie and 5-year-old Princess Lilibet, and the couple said they’ll be in the U.K. for an “extended” period, rather than making it a permanent move.
The move caught many by surprise, since they didn’t hint at the plan when they visited with King Charles in July. A day after Harry and Meghan arrived on Aug. 26, Charles issued a letter clarifying their status as nonworking royal family members and outlining the terms of their roles and affiliations as private citizens. He and Harry have reportedly spoken since they got back, but Harry and William have had no contact.
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