Prince William remains reluctant to reconcile with Prince Harry, with royal commentators pointing to Meghan Markle as a central reason for the ongoing estrangement. Several experts say mistrust of the Duchess of Sussex continues to stall peace between the brothers, despite Harry's stated desire for reconciliation.
Royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital that senior royals harbor a "persistent lack of trust" toward Meghan. "Their concerns are well-founded," she said. "Any private family discussions could become public or be used for commercial projects." She added that Meghan "has no sense of duty toward the British public nor the institution."
Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine and author of My Mother and I, offered a similar assessment. "The flea in the ointment really is very much Meghan," Seward told Fox News Digital. "She's disliked intensely by a large number of the monarchists of this country. They see her as being very... damaging to the royal family."
Seward said many observers find it "extraordinary" that Meghan's children with Harry, Archie, 6, and Lilibet, 4, have not met her father, Thomas Markle. "I think people in the States find that extremely odd, and [we] find it very odd here. I think that's a real black mark against Meghan's character," she added.
The strained relationship between the brothers worsened after Harry and Meghan stepped back as senior royals in 2020, citing press intrusion and lack of institutional support. The couple relocated to California, later speaking out in an Oprah Winfrey interview, a Netflix docuseries, and Harry's memoir Spare. In the book, Harry recounted a 2019 argument in which William allegedly called Meghan "difficult" and "rude," before physically shoving him.
Royal historian Robert Lacey, author of Battle of Brothers, told People magazine that William and Harry remain on "separate paths" with "no communication between them." He said the rift "will not be changed... until Harry makes a move and apologizes." Other sources told the outlet that Harry's calls and messages to William have gone unanswered.
Richard Fitzwilliams, another commentator, told Fox News Digital that "a mistrust of Meghan" is "a major reason" William won't engage. "Given... the personal attacks on him in the memoir Spare, reconciliation is likely to be a tough call with the [Prince of Wales]," he said.
Harry has voiced a willingness to repair relations. In May, he told BBC News, "I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point in continuing to fight anymore. I don't know how much longer my father has." King Charles, who is undergoing cancer treatment, has reportedly kept his distance out of concern that conversations could be repeated publicly.
Seward noted that avoidance has become the royal family's default. "If you can't deal with it, and you don't know how to deal with it, or if there's no way of dealing with it, you just avoid it," she said.
Despite Harry's public appeals, experts doubt reconciliation is imminent. Seward remarked, "Harry thinks that William insulted Meghan... I just don't see any kind of reparation. I just don't see it at this moment."
