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It has been well documented in recent years that the relationship between Prince Harry and his brother Prince William has become strained. However, there were glimpses of hope for reconciliation at the recent funeral of their late uncle, the Duke of Edinburgh.
Both Prince Harry and Prince William attended the funeral of their great-uncle Lord Robert Fellowes in September. While there, many observers noted that the two brothers maintained a physical distance and did not interact or exchange words with each other. They arrived separately and sat apart at the back of the church. This emphasized the apparent divide that currently exists between them.
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The last time the brothers were seen together in public was at Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral in September 2022. However, it is believed they kept their distance then as well. The tension between Harry and William dates back several years to when Harry's relationship with Meghan Markle began. It is widely reported that Meghan initially clashed with Kate Middleton in the lead up to Harry and Meghan's wedding in 2018.
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Since stepping back from royal duties and relocating to California in January 2020, Harry and Meghan's relationship with the royal family has become further strained. In his tell-all memoir "Spare" released last year, Harry made several explosive allegations against his brother William as well as other royals. He accused William of pushing him away during a heated argument about Meghan. However, Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace maintained silence in response to Harry's claims.
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While William appears unwilling to reconcile at this point, there are signs that King Charles may be open to mending fences with his youngest son. A supposed friend of Harry's recently devised a plan for the duke to gently reintegrate himself back into British society on a smaller scale. The strategy proposes that if Harry were to make low-key visits to the UK without creating spectacles or controversy, he could slowly earn back public support. However, this would require cooperation from senior members of the royal family as well.
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Harry has reportedly been reconnecting with some of his old aides and advisers from his time as a working royal as he contemplates future visits to the UK. This includes his former private secretary Edward Lane Fox. Their guidance could prove invaluable in navigating the complex politics still surrounding his position. While Harry and Meghan originally wanted a "half-in, half-out" roleafter stepping back, this was deemed unworkable. They were forced to fully resign from royal duties after the Sandringham Summit in 2020.
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The specific terms agreed to at that summit could create obstacles if Harry were to openly express a desire to renegotiate their position now. However, it's understood that King Charles may be more accommodating than other royals. With his birthday approaching in September, Harry has also been longing to reconnect with his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II as well as Kate Middleton, who helped plan celebrations for his 30th birthday. He deeply regrets their absence from important milestones in recent years since his relocation.
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While full reconciliation seems unlikely in the near term given the depth of hurt on both sides, there are small signs of movement. Harry making the effort to attend his uncle's funeral alongside William was a positive step. With the guidance of old aides as he evaluates low-profile ways to gradually increase his UK activity, Harry hopes to slowly win back trust on both sides of his family and with the British public. Only time will tell if reconciliation is indeed possible, but for now the brothers seem to be in the early stages of braving the storm and embarking on a journey towards repairing their once close bond.
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