Could Harry and Meghan Reunite Publicly With William in 2026? Ex-Royal Butler Has an Answer
Tensions still run deep between the royal siblings and any potential progress is expected to happen far from the public view.
A public reunion between Prince William and Kate Middleton and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle remains highly "unlikely" despite 2026 promising to be a significant year for the Wales family. Irrespective of the ongoing speculation about whether the long-running rift within the royal family could ease, an expert claims there is little chance of any visible reconciliation between the brothers. After all, tensions still run deep, and any potential progress is expected to happen far from the public view.
According to the Royal Insider, former butler Grant Harrold shared this view and is known for working closely with the estranged royal siblings. He claimed, “I think a public reunion with Harry and Meghan is unlikely.” While explaining why, he said, “The relationship between William and Harry is badly damaged, and trust has been broken.” He added that while 2026 could create circumstances where the brothers might cross paths, including high-profile international events such as the World Cup in the U.S., “any attempt to repair it would happen privately, behind closed doors," and public and ceremonial settings will likely be avoided.
Harry and William have years of estrangement between them. It began when the former, with his wife, decided to step back from their royal duties in 2020 and relocated to the U.S. The cracks in the siblings' bond intensified after a series of bombshell interviews by the Sussexes and when Harry released his memoir, Spare. In his book, he alleged that his elder brother had an issue with how quickly Harry's romance with Meghan was escalating. The brothers have rarely been seen in public together in many years. It has reinforced the perception that maybe they are no longer on speaking terms.
While the possibility of a reconciliation remains uncertain, Harry has gone on record to express that he would welcome it. During his 2025 interview with the BBC after losing the court battle regarding his U.K. security arrangements, he said, “Of course, some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book. But I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious.” More recently, insiders close to Harry have claimed that armed security will be reinstated, although no official confirmation has been made. It is unclear whether such a development would have a meaningful impact on the brothers’ relationship.
Amidst all this, Harrold also suggested how 2026 could be a big year for the royals. The Waleses may focus on the future of the monarchy rather than repairing strained bonds. He said it’s "very likely" William and Middleton will take a long-haul overseas tour, as major international visits are a key part of their role. The former royal butler added that a new charity patronage for Middleton is “almost guaranteed.” While he implied that private conversations might happen behind the scenes, a public reunion with Harry and Markle doesn’t seem to be a part of the royal agenda for now.
