Prince Harry’s bitter estrangement with his older brother, Prince William, might pose a big challenge for the future king.
According to a royal insider, if the feud persists, the monarchy will suffer because William, 41, will be “deprived” of someone who would be his closest and most crucial help.
“They were really, really close, and this is what makes it so sad that they’re now so far apart,” Charles Rae explained. “When William becomes king, I believe Harry will be one of his main counselors. I believe that is no longer an option.
According to the royal historian and author, the brothers’ late mother, Princess Diana, always wanted them to be as close as possible. “They had each other,” he told The Sun. “And it was them against the rest of the world, but of course now it’s not happening.”
The siblings’ relationship has had its ups and downs over the years, particularly after Harry, 39, opted to take a permanent leave of absence as a family worker.
However, according to ITV Royal Editor Chris Ship, the former working royal contacted his brother and his wife, Princess Kate Middleton, shortly before they found she had cancer.
According to a separate report from royal author Tom Quinn, William and Kate, 42, have expressed an interest in trying to “make up” with Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle. “But the suggestion isn’t going anywhere so far,” he told The Mirror earlier this month.
In March, royal analyst Tessa Dunlop told Us Weekly that Harry is in a “painful place” after learning of his sister-in-law’s sickness.
“When you do discover that your sister-in-law has cancer and you’ve written stuff that can’t be retracted, that’s quite a painful place to be in,” she went on to say. “I’m not saying it isn’t.”
Harry has also had poor relations with other members of his family, notably his father, King Charles III, since he and Meghan, 42, emigrated from London to California with their two children. (Archie and Lilibet joined the family in 2019 and 2021, respectively.).
“My family literally cut me off financially, and I [needed to be able to] afford security for us,” Harry claimed in his explosive CBS interview in March 2021. “The first quarter of 2020 disconnected me.” But I have what my mother left me, and we wouldn’t have been able to accomplish this otherwise.”
Despite the family feud, he traveled alone to see the king after Buckingham Palace declared in February that the monarch had cancer.
“I treasure my family.” I’m grateful that I was able to get on a plane and see him and spend any time with him,” Harry remarked on Good Morning America later that month. “I jumped on a plane and went to go see him as soon as I could.”
While Harry kept his father’s diagnosis a secret, he did reveal that he would be coming to London soon. “I’ve got other trip plans that will take me through the U.K. or back to the U.K.,” he explained. “So, I’ll stop in and see my family as much as I can.”
