The longstanding feud between Prince William and Prince Harry shows no signs of abating, with the future king firmly asserting his position within the royal family. Despite ongoing health crises affecting his family, Prince William remains resolute in his decision to maintain a distance from his younger brother, according to royal experts and insiders.
Christopher Andersen, author of "The King," recently told Fox News that William has effectively "pulled up the drawbridge" and is not inclined to lower it for Harry anytime soon. "William not only expects loyalty from his brother on a very personal level, but he commands respect as the heir to the throne," Andersen said. "That's just the kind of person the Prince of Wales is. He has always been brought up to believe, as his father did before him, that if the system is to work at all, he comes first after the king."
Majesty magazine's editor-in-chief Ingrid Seward echoed these sentiments, noting that William has cut ties with Harry to avoid being continually annoyed by their strained relationship. "William is sensitive, he likes structure and has perseverance," Seward told the U.K.'s Mirror. "He does not give up easily. His relationship with his brother Harry upsets him more than he would care to admit. But he found it easier to cut ties rather than allow himself to be continually annoyed."
Andersen suggested that the ongoing health crises within the royal family have further entrenched William's stance. Both King Charles and Princess Kate are battling cancer, adding to the immense pressure William faces. "It's just been so much easier for William, facing the pressure of having to cope with his wife's, as well as his father's cancer diagnoses, to slam the door on Harry," Andersen claimed. "Queen Elizabeth was able to do it, and the king has shown no interest in making amends with Harry either. If anything, it looks as if the cancer diagnoses have made it easier for William to shut his brother out."
The royal family's focus appears to be on shielding King Charles and Princess Kate from additional stress, rather than attempting to reconcile with Harry. "It's certain that [the royals] want to keep Kate and the king away from any added stress," Andersen said. "That means keeping them at arm's length from the sideshow that goes with Harry and Meghan."
Harry, who has been living in California since stepping down from royal duties in 2020, has had limited contact with his family. His last brief visit to London in February was to see his father after King Charles was diagnosed with cancer. However, there were no plans for him to meet with William during that visit. Harry's strained relationship with his family has been well-documented in his memoir "Spare," where he details his rivalry with William and his feelings of being marginalized within the royal family.
The memoir recounts an incident in 2019 when an argument between the brothers turned physical, with William allegedly calling Meghan "difficult" and "rude" before grabbing Harry by the collar and knocking him down. Harry claimed that following the funeral of their grandfather, Prince Philip, King Charles pleaded with his sons, "Please, boys, don't make my final years a misery."
Helena Chard, a British photographer and broadcaster, believes reconciliation is still possible but acknowledges it would be a challenging path. "The Sussexes still have their titles," Chard told Fox News. "Prince Harry, as well as his children, are still in the line of succession. Prince Harry is listed as Counsellor of State. As long as Parliament doesn't change this, the door is always open for reconciliation between the battling brothers. However, this will not be anytime soon."
Chard added that Harry and Meghan's public criticisms of the royal family have caused significant damage. "Prince Harry, along with Meghan, denigrated their family," she said. "Uncomfortable conversations are OK but Harry and Meghan attacking their family with a string of explosive public claims... is not OK. Prince Harry has lost a lot of fans and created a lot of enemies because of the amount of damage and hurt he and Meghan have caused... The negativity surrounding Prince Harry seems to be lasting and still, he seems remorseless. There is little chance of reconciliation without a heartfelt apology."
Prince William's firm stance has been likened to that of his late grandfather, Prince Philip, known for his no-nonsense attitude and strong control over the royal family. Royal expert Jennie Bond told OK! magazine, "William has always been a strong character. I think his broken childhood made him tough and resolute. He now has the reputation of being stubborn and, once his mind is made up, he sticks to his decision. Obviously, as heir to the throne, his word carries a lot of weight in the family, and I think it's true that he has been prepared to take a tough stand on a number of issues, including Andrew and Harry."
