Prince Harry’s highly anticipated reunion with his father, King Charles III, is unlikely to help repair his fractured relationship with Prince William, according to multiple royal experts.
The “Off With Their Headlines” podcast co-host explained that the relationship between the Duke of Sussex and William is the “most strained” out of all the family dynamics involved.
“William is also seeking to project strength and leadership these days, which often results in press briefings that he has opposed the king’s handling of emotionally charged issues like Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and now, Harry’s potential return,” Matta pointed out.
“I certainly wouldn’t expect anything to happen on this visit,” Nash said, adding, “I mean, you never know.”
“If it was part of a wider family gathering, it’s possible they could be at the same place at the same time,” she continued. “But, you know, given the very fractious nature of the relationship between William and Harry, I don’t see them rushing to spend time together just because Harry’s back in the UK.”
As for whether Charles would play a role in William and Harry making amends, Nash believes the reigning monarch is staying out of it.
“I think he probably is just focused on his own moment of spending time with the son he’s not seen for a long time,” Nash said of Charles, adding, “Especially potentially meeting his grandchildren… I’m sure that’s probably his primary focus right now.”
In order for the brothers to bury the hatchet, Matta believes William needs to approach the situation “pragmatically rather than emotionally.”
“Sort of the opposite of King Charles’ approach,” she said. “William has been the holdout for years, viewing Harry’s betrayal as unforgivable.”
If there were to be a private meeting between William and Harry, this would be a clear signal that “lines of communication are being reopened,” Matta said.
But Nash doesn’t expect a reconciliation to happen soon.
“These things have to happen step by step,” Nash said. “When things have been as difficult and as estranged as they have been in that family, I wouldn’t expect things to change overnight.”
Our source previously told us that Harry “desperately wants” his kids to meet their grandfather.
Days later, sources told the US Sun that Charles extended an olive branch to Harry and Markle by inviting them to stay at a royal residence during their visit to the UK next month. Charles also allegedly offered to take care of their security arrangements.
Harry and Markle were stripped of their security privileges in the UK after they quit their royal duties and moved to California in 2020. Since then, Harry and Markle have been on the outs with William and Kate Middleton.
The Sussexes’ journey across the pond marks the first time Markle will be visiting the UK since she and Harry attended the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral on Sept. 8, 2022.
Their kids — Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5 — have not been back in the UK since Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022.
