Harry and William Don’t Meet Despite Being Just 8 Miles Apart As Royal Reunion Hopes Fizzle

As Prince Harry landed in the UK on September 8 to attend charity engagements, royal watchers were on edge over whether he would reunite with Prince William and King Charles. While reports claim Harry and Charles may bury the hatchet, the same cannot be said for the Prince of Wales. On September 7, Kensington Palace confirmed that William will be booked with royal engagements during the same days Harry would be in the UK. The brothers' jam-packed schedules squash hopes of a reconciliation between them, at least for now. 

As Harry touched down in the UK and visited the burial site of his grandmother at Windsor Castle, William marked Queen Elizabeth's third death anniversary with Kate Middleton at the Women’s Institute in Sunningdale — a cause close to the late monarch during her life— and only 8 miles away from Windsor. The brothers' planned engagements throughout the week will separate them despite close proximities: On September 9, William will visit a youth organization in the Lambeth district of south London, while Harry will travel about 130 miles north to Nottingham. A day later, the Duke of Sussex will return to London for an outing at Imperial College London's Centre for Blast Injury Studies. Meanwhile, the Prince of Wales will head to Cardiff to visit a pioneering new mental health hub launching at Principality Stadium.

Regarding a potential meetup between the brothers, a source told The Times, "At the end of the day, as he’s (Harry) no longer a member of the institution, he doesn’t feel bound to de-conflict his diary with the institution." Harry's trip to the UK was mainly to attend the WellChild Awards, which fell on the third anniversary of the Queen’s death. He regularly attends the annual event, and his appearance on Monday was his 15th time at the award ceremony. As a patron of the charity since 2007, he engaged with seriously ill children and their families. During the event, he also presented the Inspirational Child award to Esmée McGlinchey, a six-year-old who has undergone 35 surgeries since her premature birth. 

The Duke of Sussex is said to have arrived in his home country in a 'positive mood'. A source told PEOPLE, "He's in a really good headspace and looking forward to seeing everyone from his charities and the causes he cares about." There is speculation that Harry might meet Charles in an attempt to ease tensions; however, his chances of meeting William are very slim. Royal author Robert Lacey recently said, "The rift is very profound and very long-lasting. It will not be changed, in my opinion, until Harry makes a move and apologizes." 

It is also reported that William is unhappy with Charles considering meeting Harry in the UK. A friend of the Prince told The Daily Beast, "He [William] respects his father’s rank, and he respects his father’s right to make his own decisions, and he won’t make a fuss if it happens. But he thinks a Harry meeting is a terrible, terrible idea." They added, "It’s absurd to even imagine that after what Harry said — unless there is some form of direct apology from Harry."