As Prince Harry prepares to travel to London for the 10th anniversary celebration of the Invictus Games, sources close to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have revealed that the couple is determined to maintain a respectful distance from Prince William and Kate Middleton amid the Princess of Wales' ongoing cancer battle.
"The Duke and Duchess [of Sussex] want to be super respectful and don't want to add stress to the situation," a source exclusively told Us Weekly in their latest cover story. "If Will and Kate want their space, Meghan and Harry will give it to them."
The relationship between the royal brothers has been strained since 2019, following Prince Harry's marriage to Meghan Markle and their subsequent decision to step down from their public duties and relocate to California in 2020. The rift was further exacerbated by allegations that Prince William's team had planted unfavorable news articles about Meghan, accusations that the Prince of Wales has never publicly addressed.
Earlier this year, the royal family faced another challenge when Kate Middleton was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer. The Princess of Wales publicly confirmed her diagnosis in March, with Harry and Meghan expressing their wishes for "health and healing" in a statement.
A second source notes that Kate's cancer diagnosis has "put things into perspective" for the royal couple, emphasizing their desire to mend fences with the Sussexes. "They want a relationship with Meghan and Harry and they don't want the acrimony to carry over to the next generation," the insider explains.
Both couples are parents to young children - Prince William and Kate have Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, while Harry and Meghan are parents to Archie, 4, and Lilibet, 2. The source adds that William and Kate hope their children can eventually develop a relationship with their cousins, stating, "They want to mend fences with them for the kids' sake."
Despite the expressed willingness on both sides to potentially reconcile for the sake of the next generation, neither Prince William nor Prince Harry has made the first move thus far. Another insider tells Us Weekly that the brothers "haven't had a real conversation" in several months.
"The brothers haven't spoken [but] there is potential for that. [Harry] would be more than happy," the third source reveals, noting that Harry has invited his relatives to the upcoming Invictus Games in London. It remains unclear whether Prince Harry will have the opportunity to meet with his brother, Kate, and their children during his upcoming trip.
There is also a possibility that Prince Harry could visit his father, King Charles III, who is also battling a form of cancer. Despite their past differences, a fourth source tells Us Weekly that Harry and Charles are currently in communication, with the Duke of Sussex having traveled to London to visit his father at Buckingham Palace following the King's diagnosis.
"I love my family," Prince Harry said during a February appearance on Good Morning America. "The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him, I'm grateful for that."
