Kate’s Health Could Be the Reason William Cannot Forgive Harry, Warns Royal Expert
It's been several years since Prince William and Prince Harry have looked eye-to-eye or even spoken. While chances of a brotherly reunion look slim at the moment, royal biographer Andrew Lownie details that their gap may never close. During a recent interview, the biographer argued that the Prince of Wales cannot forgive his younger brother for what he sees as lasting damage to the monarchy as well as their family. As per Lownie, this divide has taken on an even larger meaning since the cancer diagnoses of King Charles and Princess Kate.
Speaking to NewsNation, Lownie argued that William’s frustration with Harry has only hardened in recent years. He also noted that some within royal circles now link the stress surrounding the monarchy to Charles and Kate’s health battles. “There are arguments that some of these illnesses are being brought on by the problems of the so-called ‘spares,’" he told the outlet, noting the private conversations that shape the Prince of Wales’s view of recent events. According to the biographer, the Princess of Wales remains central to William’s concerns. “I do think there will be a real crisis if something happens to Kate and she’s incapacitated. She is the linchpin on which the whole future of the monarchy depends,” Lownie explained.
Within that context, Harry’s public criticisms, especially his bombshell memoir Spare and continuing distance from the royal family, are seen as far more than personal grievances. As Lownie put it, “I mean the whole reputation of the monarchy has been sullied both by Harry and by Andrew, and that’s the inheritance that he’s going to have to deal with.” Though a reconciliation may be possible between the King and Harry, Lownie argued, it's highly unlikely between the brothers. “I think Charles is keen to have a rapprochement with Harry before he dies,” he says. “But I think the relationship between William and Harry is just not exactly.”
Whether the brotherly bond will ever return to how it was in the past is still uncertain. However, the question of titles has also become another point of tension within the Palace. Earlier reports had reported that one of William’s first moves as King would be to remove the Duke and Duchess titles of Harry and Meghan Markle, as well as the princely status of their kids Archie and Lilibet. Lownie linked that possibility directly to the recent precedent of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, adding, "I think now that we’ve seen the royal titles can be struck out in an afternoon, I think we’re going to see a lot of titles go if you’re not a working royal (or) you’re not the direct line of succession."
Talking about the removal of Mountbatten-Windsor’s titles and honors, Lownie added, “Getting rid of Andrew has been a very useful exercise in showing what’s possible regarding titles. And it’s a warning shot across Harry’s bow.” While several experts have detailed a word of caution for Harry, Markle, on the other hand, has been ‘consulting with various legal experts’ should title removal become a formal possibility. As per Woman’s Day, royal insiders have noted that “Meghan’s not taking any chances, and she’s willing to fight to keep her title. She’s consulting with various legal experts on what strategies she can use to keep her duchess name – and she may actually have a case.” For now, however, the only certainty is that the debate over titles is far from over.