Prince William and Kate Middleton are unlikely to reconcile with Prince Harry anytime soon, according to royal commentators, who say the couple still view him with “extreme suspicion.”
The Duke of Sussex returned to Britain this week for a four-day visit, attending the WellChild Awards and an event for the Diana Award, before reuniting privately with King Charles at Clarence House on Wednesday. The meeting with his father was their first face-to-face encounter in 19 months.
But despite Harry’s time in London, there were no plans for him to meet with the Prince and Princess of Wales. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told the Express that William and Kate are hesitant to extend an olive branch.
“I think William and Catherine will, rightly, regard Harry with extreme suspicion,” he said. “As will the King.”
The caution stems largely from Harry’s decision to reveal private family conversations in interviews and in his memoir Spare, released in 2023. Fitzwilliams suggested those disclosures have left William and Kate deeply reluctant to trust him again.
While the commentator admitted a reconciliation would be “desirable,” especially given King Charles’ ongoing health concerns, he stressed it would require a dramatic shift from both Harry and Meghan Markle.
“They really have to change if they do want to reconcile, something which is obviously desirable, especially when there is illness in the family,” Fitzwilliams added. “But it may not actually happen.”
During this latest trip, Meghan stayed behind in California with the couple’s two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. A spokesperson for Harry said he had “loved being back in the UK, catching up with old friends, colleagues, and supporting the incredible work of the causes that mean so much to him.”
Harry appeared upbeat following his private reunion with the King, telling reporters his father was “great.” But with William and Kate still keeping their distance, the rift between the brothers shows little sign of healing.
Kensington Palace has not commented on the reports.
