'Charming' Prince Harry's Successful UK Tour Has William Losing Sleep, Claims Author
Prince Harry’s return to the UK for a series of charity engagements, and Prince William’s packed calendar during the same period, have drawn attention to the brothers’ uneasy dynamic and the challenges it poses for the House of Windsor. Harry's successful return could be a turning point, one that royal insiders claim has left the heir apparent deeply unsettled. William reportedly has had long-standing fears that Harry could claw back public affection and royal relevance despite stepping away from the Firm.
The clash isn’t just about Spare or Harry’s public criticism of the monarchy. As royal commentator Tom Sykes explained to The Daily Beast, William’s hardline stance was always about blocking Harry from tapping into the "fairy dust of royalty" to revive his status. But with even traditionally critical outlets like the Mail and The Telegraph lauding Harry’s “surprising return to form,” that strategy now looks under threat. Adding salt to the wound, columnist Amanda Platell, one of Harry’s fiercest critics, mocked William and Kate Middleton as "the Prince and Princess of boring," pointing out the optics problem the Waleses face. She wrote, for The Mail, “William and Kate have become the Prince and Princess of Boring. This is why they need to stop skulking around and take a leaf out of Harry's book, or risk Charles's wrath.”
Part of Harry’s appeal lies in his informality, relativity, and ease with the public. Images of him playing a swordfight game with a child at the Wellchild Awards had everyone remembering his mother, Princess Diana, and her ability to put people at ease. William, by contrast, is often described as more formal and reserved. While he makes efforts to connect, he has been criticized at times for lacking the easygoing charm that comes naturally to his younger brother. For William, it’s more than a PR setback. Sykes says the future King has always viewed Harry’s popularity as a zero-sum game: “Harry’s gain is his loss.”
William, who has long been known to have a light calendar, was suddenly scheduled with three consecutive days of high-profile appearances. For royal watchers, the overlap looked less like a coincidence and more like competition with his brother. The British press has frequently branded him 'work-shy,' noting his tally of engagements fell far short of that of his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and his father, Charles, when they were of similar age.
According to reports, the tension goes beyond just scheduling. Charles is said to be more open to reconciliation with Harry, while William has taken a harder line. “William believes no member of the family should burnish Harry’s status by meeting him,” a friend of the Prince told The Daily Beast, adding that Charles risks repeating mistakes of the past by appearing too lenient. They explained, "Charles risks repeating his mistake with Andrew: ‘William was right about Andrew, and he is right about Harry. Charles is weak.”