Since past is prologue, I expected a lot of focus on Prince William this week, following the Sussexes’ UK visit last week. That’s what happened last September – Prince Harry had a wildly successful visit to the UK (and then Ukraine), met his dad for the first time in a year and a half, and got great press. What followed was William clearly having a nervous breakdown about all of that, and the British press could barely contain it. So I expected something similar this month. But what’s happening is very strange, it’s like there’s an overemphasis on reminding everyone about the intractable estrangement between the brothers, something which has not changed in over many years. We’re also being told that William “will not be losing sleep” over King Charles’ meeting with Harry, despite William’s clear panic over it. Well, this week’s People Magazine cover story is trying to cover this well-trod ground for the millionth time:
Prince Harry’s long-awaited reunion with King Charles may have marked a turning point in one royal relationship — but not the one with Prince William.
“It’s so broken,” an insider tells PEOPLE about the bond between the King’s sons in this week’s exclusive cover story.
Adds a source who knows both brothers: “I thought it would have perhaps eased a little bit by now, to be honest. But there has been no movement, especially on William’s side. There is no contact.”
Though Prince William, 44, and Prince Harry, 41, stepped out just 12 miles apart in London on July 7, the first day of Harry’s U.K. trip, there was never an expectation they would meet.
The distance that divides the brothers now extends to the next generation. The Prince and Princess of Wales’ children — Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, 8 — have no relationship with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, their California-based first cousins.
“[Princess] Diana would be devastated that it has turned out like this, particularly because [the brothers] were once so close,” royal author Simon Vigar says of what William and Harry’s late mother would make of the situation.
Royal historian Robert Lacey previously told PEOPLE: “The rift is very profound and very long-lasting. It will not be changed, in my opinion, until Harry makes a move and apologizes.”
Complicating the dynamic, historian Amanda Foreman added, “Everyone wants it to happen on their terms, but that’s what makes it impossible.”
It’s fascinating that they keep using that Robert Lacey quote: “It will not be changed, in my opinion, until Harry makes a move and apologizes.” Combined with this new quote: “But there has been no movement, especially on William’s side.” We get it. I mean, it’s abundantly clear. William is still incandescent with rage. William will not contact Harry. William wants Harry to come crawling back, begging for forgiveness, and until that happens, William will not budge. That’s been William’s perspective for over six years. It’s like it would not occur to anyone within the institution or within the royal media to point out that William’s perspective is BS, and that he’s a rageholic dumbass who needs to grow up and let go of his anger.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
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- Britain’s Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge speak to employers, at the London Bridge Jobcentre, in London, Britain, September 15, 2020.
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- 161569, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge laughing after taking part in a relay race during a training day with runners taking part in the 2017 London Marathon for Heads Together , the official Charity of the Year at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. London, United Kingdom – Sunday, February 5, 2017. UK, FRANCE, AUS, NZ, CHINA, HONG KONG, TAIWAN, SPAIN & ITALY OUT,Image: 532903283, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: i-Images, PacificCoastNews / Avalon
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- Prince Harry taking part in Goat Yoga Prince Harry taking part in Scotty’s Summer Festival at Maxstoke Castle, Birmingham . Scotty’s is a military bereavement charity that provides relief from the effects of grief for bereaved military children and young people who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Forces. 11 July 2026,Image: 1115961879, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no , Credit line: Heathcliff O’Malley for the Telegraph/Avalon
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- Prince Harry taking part in Scotty’s Summer Festival at Maxstoke Castle, Birmingham . Scotty’s is a military bereavement charity that provides relief from the effects of grief for bereaved military children and young people who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Forces. 11 July 2026,Image: 1115961921, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no , Credit line: Heathcliff O’Malley for the Telegraph/Avalon
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- USA Rights Only – London, UK – 02/05/2017 – Royals at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. he Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will joined a training day with the runners taking part in the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon for Heads Together, the official Charity of the Year. The training day for Team Heads Together, the campaign to change the conversation on mental health which is spearheaded by Their Royal Highnesses took place at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (QEOP) in London on Sunday 5th February -PICTURED: Prince Harry, Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge -PHOTO by: PA Images/INSTARimages.com -Instar_Royals_London_0730625679.JPG Editorial Rights Managed Image – Please contact www.INSTARimages.com for licensing fee and rights: North America Inquiries: email sales@instarimages.com or call 212.414.0207 – UK Inquiries: email ben@instarimages.com or call + 7715 698 715 – Australia Inquiries: email sarah@instarimages.com.au Êor call +02 9660 0500 Ð for any other Country, please email sales@instarimages.com. ÊImage or video may not be published in any way that is or might be deemed defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene / Please consult our sales department for any clarification or question you may have – http://www.INSTARimages.com reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this image or video. If you are in violation of our intellectual property you may be liable for actual damages, loss of income, and profits you derive from the use of this image or video, and where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or statutory damage. Featuring: Prince Harry, Prince William and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge Where: London, England, United Kingdom When: 05 Feb 2017 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages.com **USA Rights Only**
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- Australia Only, Norfolk, UK – 20181225 – British Royal Family Attends Christmas Morning Service. -PICTURED: Prince Charles, Prince William, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry -PHOTO by: INSTARimages.com This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact Instar Images LLC for licensing fee and rights information at sales@instarimages.com or call +1 212 414 0207 This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. Instar Images LLC reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded Featuring: Prince Charles, Prince William, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry Where: Norfolk, UK, United Kingdom When: 25 Dec 2018 Credit: INSTARimages.com **Australia Only**
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- The Duke of Sussex, Patron of WellChild, embraces a nurse as he arrives for a visit to the Birmingham Children’s Hospital to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the very first WellChild Nurse. Created in 2006, the role is part funded by the Duke, and was designed to support children with complex medical needs and their families. Featuring: Prince Harry Where: Birmingham, United Kingdom When: 09 Jul 2026 Credit: Aaron Chown/PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- The Duke of Sussex, Patron of WellChild, during a visit to the Birmingham Children’s Hospital to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the very first WellChild Nurse. Created in 2006, the role is part funded by the Duke, and was designed to support children with complex medical needs and their families. Featuring: Prince Harry Where: Birmingham, United Kingdom When: 09 Jul 2026 Credit: Aaron Chown/PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
Harry should stay away from scooter. And keep his wife and children away. Keen would not want her kids to meet the sussex children . Scooter thinks he’s always right. The brothers were never close
Stay far away Harry because William is a HATER.
And that is exactly what he does. Harry has never shown any interest in William, nor any desire for contact. Harry was done with William a long time ago, and the media smear campaign and slander that William
constantly unleashes against H&M with the help of the corrupt media only reinforce Harry’s decision to keep his distance. And that is precisely William’s biggest problem. In his imagination, he sees his brother begging for a meeting and himself refusing… heh… yet he cannot make his dreams a reality because Harry has completely ignored him for years. 👍
William is a lost cause on whatever issue you like. He is a disastrously weak and lazy man. He will never do England or himself proud. And he really doesn’t care. At all. About anyone but himself. A severe disappointment.
It’s still never been clear to me exactly what Harry has to apologize for.
Not divorcing his wife on William’s command, obviously. Refusing to continue as William’s scapegoat and whipping boy and daring to be happy and in love with his hot wife that William has coveted since her days on Suits.
Scooter did not want harry and meghan to get married. He had no authority. Clearly he should apologize
If the late Queen had refused permission for the marriage Harry would have been taken out of the Succession if he went ahead, it is in the rules. luckily she agreed to the marriage. The same rules apply to all the people in the first six of the succession. So technically now if Archie wants to marry he has to ask the King’s permission. Luckily there are enough children in front of Archie to hope that the problem will be solved by their own children’s children.
Scooter may cause problems for his own kids. If he does not approve of their partners. And makes trouble. I can actually see this happening. A sort of Brooklyn Beckham scenario. Where the keens don’t care for George’s girlfriend. Scooter tried to micromanage harry.
Let’s not forget he didn’t shave off his beard when Willie demanded he do so.
Having agency. William seems to have a true problem reconciling that Harry doesn’t belong to him in mind, body, and soul. Everything seems to spiral on from there. Disapproving of his professional endeavors, legal and media approach, and personal life all appear to areas where he feels/felt he was entitled to weigh in and have his edicts obeyed without question.
Being his own person and walking away, I guess?
I said yesterday that we never hear why William hates Harry so much and why he’s so angry at him. The press tosses around terms like “betrayal” and “hurt” and “Harry insulting Catherine” (always Catherine in those comments lol) but never what specifically Harry did. Harry even says in the beginning of Spare that neither his father nor his brother had any idea why he walked away, and part of the point of Spare was to explain it.
But why the anger and hatred? Charles clearly doesn’t know what to “do” with Harry so to speak – he’s petty and vengeful and we hear about “broken trust” but we don’t hear that Charles is livid with Harry, or that Charles won’t speak to him, etc. It’s all very guarded language obviously but its not the same as what comes from William’s camp.
So trying to look at it from William’s perspective – but his anger just doesn’t make sense unless there are some very deep psychological issues there. Like William thought he “owned” Harry and should have total control over Harry’s life and choices – personal and professional.
IDK. the press dances around the issue but at this point, 6 years in – it would be better for KP to just put it out there that “William is booked and busy and barely thinks of his brother, but there’s no real ill will anymore. They’re just leading very different lives.” But instead, we get…..all these other stories.
Honestly, I doubt if even William could articulate why exactly he wants Harry to apologize.
He wanted to control Harry and it didn’t work. He’s jealous of Harry and his family and his happy life. He’s a miserable man whose only respite is making others around him just as or more miserable. It all boils down to “Harry didn’t do what I wanted him to”.
@Dee (2) – There’s that telling quote from Harry towards the end of Spare that always pops into my head whenever this question of why Will expects an apology pops up. Won’t rehash the details, but he was referring to the conversation he, Charles, and Will had while taking a walk post Philip’s funeral, and post the Oprah interview the previous month.
“Since boyhood, that had been Willy’s position on everything. I must come to him. Pointedly, directly, formally – bend the knee. Otherwise, no aid from the Heir.”
Since boyhood. Will doesn’t have the throne yet, but in his mind, Harry has always been his subject.
Harry should stay away from scooter. And his wife and children away. Keen would not want her kids to meet the sussex children . Scooter thinks he’s always right
Harry is minding his business.
William’s challenge is that he has no business of his own that he truly cares to mind. (And the institution can’t afford for him to care about anything that deeply. Look at everything Harry has done for his family and his freedom and his life).
Also, every time I see William bellowing at a sports event, I am shocked at how tight his lips look. The jaw and the pelvis are connected. William has got to be constantly constipated with a jaw and lips that tight all the time.
It’s almost as though the most interesting thing about William is Harry.
Not almost, but exactly. Imagine if there were no Harry to rage against. Would there be any mention of William apart from an article or two whenever he chooses to appear? His PR people can’t get anyone to be interested unless there’s a mention of or comparison to Harry.
Alicky, for being the better man, of course. For being king material, unlike the presumptive heir.
I think the simplest explanation is that William is already on some ritzy overseas vacation and he can’t be bothered to rage brief the tabloids. His laziness is stronger than his rage.
Bingo.
“It is broken.”
The “it” here is William.
“It” is definitely broken beyond repair or redemption imo.
William is a gemini, I don’t think he is still incandescent with rage at this point, I think he is just done. I know it’s a very unpopular opinion on this site, but think of how Angelina left Brad and then moved on without a look back.
Once a gemini feels betrayed, they never gives back their trust, and they will never be emotionally available to the person anymore.
William is a Cancer
Oooops, my bad !
William is on the cusp of Gemini and Cancer. As such, he supposedly has traits of both signs. Speaking as a Cancer, I don’t recognize him as a fellow Cancer.
He’s a Cancer. Someone just done wouldn’t bother with the tantrums and keep your name in their mouth 24-7. Now Harry hardly speaks of William. Space. Virgo. Nice try. No not really.
Exactly. William is not done, he is jealous because he keeps copying Harry, with no shame and no charisma 🙄
@Melody Angelina left Brad because he abused her and their children on a private airplane from France. It’s a leap to compare and add her in this context. This analogy hardly passes muster as to why William is constantly angry and envious of his brother.
William needs to grow up.
William will never grow up. He was indulged and pampered, never forced to act his age. He has been allowed to tantrum for decades and will continue well into his later years.
Harry, through some neglect, has been able to grow and flourish into a charismatic and altruistic man.
We, of course, can plainly see who the better human is.
William thinks Harry should apologize for …
— telling the world in “Spare” that William is a rage monster who attacked his own brother.
— being allowed to wear a beard at his wedding, something William was denied.
— for marrying a spouse who was smarter, more energetic, more polished, more beautiful.
— for founding an organization that has had a global impact, unlike his own pathetic vanity project.
— for being the true inheritor of their mother’s charisma and people skills.
— for failing to devote his life to propping up the heir.
William is a hollow man with no substance. Good luck England when he’s king.
Exactly this..
They drove them out & expected H&M to keep quiet about it, protecting your abuser. I don’t think they will ever reconcile and that’s fine because Will has always been unpleasant to Harry from day one. Everyone should just let it go.
The estrangement remains because Harry is not interested in having a relationship with William.
He has gone to significant lengths to repair the relationship with his father. He spoke about it and he has made some inroads.
I have not seen Harry talking about William.
William has made their childhood friends pick a side and still Harry is not moving.
That is the problem for William. Harry said “space” and it has remained “space”.
William can’t have that be the narrative so he continues to push the “I can’t forgive Harry” narrative.