Prince William, the Prince of Wales, is grappling with the complex dynamics of his relationship with his younger brother, Prince Harry, as he looks toward his eventual coronation. According to reports, William has made it clear that he envisions a coronation that "looks and feels different" from traditional royal ceremonies, and there are indications that this might not include Harry.
The strained relationship between the brothers, exacerbated by recent events and deep-seated grievances, has left many wondering if the Duke of Sussex will be present at one of the most significant moments in William's life.
Friends close to the future king have noted that the rift between the brothers is severe, with one insider telling the UK Sunday Times that William and Harry have not spoken in nearly two years. This estrangement has led to speculation about whether William would exclude Harry from his coronation. Christopher Andersen, author of The King, expressed his belief that despite the bad blood, William would not make the "foolish" mistake of completely shutting out his brother.
"Despite all the bad blood between the brothers, I'm convinced that, when the time does come, William will not be foolish enough to exclude his only sibling, now fifth in line to the throne, from his coronation," Andersen told Fox News Digital. However, he acknowledged that the relationship between the two has likely never been worse, with both William and their father, King Charles, having made the difficult decision to effectively cut Harry out of their lives for the time being.
The tensions between the brothers have been brewing for years, but they reached a boiling point following Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to step back from their roles as senior royals in 2020. The couple cited the unbearable intrusions of the British press and issues of racism as reasons for their departure. Since then, Harry has been vocal about his grievances with the royal family, detailing his rocky relationship with William in his memoir Spare and in numerous interviews and documentaries.
One of the most shocking revelations from Spare was Harry's account of a physical altercation with William in 2019, where he alleged that William called Meghan "difficult" and "rude" before grabbing him by the collar and knocking him to the ground. This incident, along with other public and private disputes, has only deepened the divide between the once-close brothers.
As William prepares for his future role as king, he is also dealing with personal challenges. Both his wife, Kate Middleton, and his father, King Charles, are reportedly battling cancer, adding to the emotional and psychological burden he carries. Andersen pointed out that William must maintain a brave face for the sake of his three young children and the stability of the monarchy.
In contrast, Harry has been forging a new path in California, focusing on international initiatives such as Archewell and the Invictus Games. Royal experts have noted that Harry and Meghan's recent activities, which resemble royal tours, have further strained relations with the royal family. "I really don't think Harry and Meghan would be making what looks like royal tours to Nigeria and Colombia if they thought a thaw in the relationship was possible," Andersen said.
Hilary Fordwich, another royal expert, expressed her sadness over the brothers' estrangement, noting that while Harry is "looking in the rearview mirror," William has chosen to focus on his duties and serve the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. "It's sad because he was born into a life of privilege and had become the favorite royal after Queen Elizabeth II. Due to his own actions and words, he's now at the bottom," Fordwich said.
