Prince Harry has reportedly reached out to his sister-in-law, Princess Kate, in an attempt to mend his strained relationship with the Royal Family, according to royal expert Tom Quinn. However, sources close to the Windsors have dismissed any hopes for a reconciliation, claiming that a meeting between the Duke of Sussex and the Princess of Wales is "the last thing she needs" as she recovers from cancer treatment.
The revelations come amidst ongoing tensions between Prince Harry and his family, which have been exacerbated by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's decision to step down as senior working royals and their subsequent attacks on The Firm. Despite the rift, Quinn told The Mirror that Harry has contacted at least one royal since leaving the UK: Princess Kate.
"She is sympathetic, but fully supports her husband and, struggling with her own health problems, has no intention of playing peacemaker," Quinn said, referring to Kate's recent cancer diagnosis and subsequent step back from public duties.
The Princess of Wales announced in March that she is undergoing treatment for cancer and will return to work once she receives the green light from her doctors. When the news of Kate's diagnosis broke, Harry and Meghan sent a supportive message, wishing her "health and healing" and expressing hope that the family can navigate this difficult time "privately and in peace."
However, friends of the royals have dismissed any ambitions for a reunion as "fantasy," claiming that the Windsors are exhausted by the ongoing feud with the Sussexes. "Meeting with Harry is the last thing that William or Catherine want or need right now," a friend of Prince William told The Daily Beast. "It's not about apologies or who said what, it is about protecting his family."
The friend emphasized that Kate is currently focusing on her recovery and that the royal couple is avoiding stressful situations. The tensions between Prince Harry and his family have been well-documented, with the Duke making a series of allegations against The Firm in his explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Netflix docuseries, and his memoir, "Spare."
During the Oprah interview, Harry accused King Charles of refusing to take his calls when he was attempting to discuss stepping down as a working royal. He also claimed that members of Kensington Palace had "lied to protect" Prince William and alleged that his brother had left him terrified after screaming and shouting at him during the Sandringham summit.
Despite Prince Harry's expressed desire to reconcile with his family, sources close to the royals suggest that the Windsors are not ready to extend an olive branch. A friend of King Charles and Queen Camilla told The Daily Beast that while the meeting between Harry and his father after the monarch's cancer diagnosis was a "significant step in the right direction," the idea of the Duke and his children descending on Balmoral this summer is "wishful thinking."
Another friend of the King and Queen acknowledged the fury Prince William feels towards his brother but emphasized that holding grudges over past arguments will make the future king "look petty and ridiculous." The friend also claimed that King Charles is "gently trying to lead by example" in navigating the complex family dynamics.
