Prince William Is Inclined Toward Reconciling With Harry ⏤ but Not Without Some Conditions
After years of reported rift, Prince William’s stance towards his younger brother may finally be softening, though not without boundaries. A source close to the Prince of Wales told National Examiner that while he “is not totally closed off to the idea of making peace with” Prince Harry, the process would need to unfold carefully. The bond between the once inseparable brothers has remained strained since the Duke of Sussex stepped back from his royal duties in 2020. But now with Christmas around the corner, William reportedly recognizes how much a reconciliation would mean to both his father, King Charles, and his wife, Princess Kate. “He knows how much it would mean to his father and [Princess] Kate, especially with Christmas fast approaching,” the source explained.
Insiders claim that if a meeting between the two were to happen, it would be strictly under William’s conditions. Moreover, the heir apparent has no desire to “pick up the phone and do this casually,” the source stressed. Instead, he would prefer a “supervised discussion” that is “handled with total discretion.” Though he’s facing some issues of his own after his honest admissions on The Reluctant Traveler series, sources suggest his wish to reconcile with his brother is genuine. Still, not everyone within the royal fold shares that optimism.
“A lot of courtiers still don’t trust Harry an inch," the source added, suggesting that many within the monarchy believe the heir apparent should "stand his ground and stay far away from the Sussexes." The divide within Buckingham Palace remains deep and under intense scrutiny, reflecting years of broken communication and tension. However, it appears both Charles and Kate have been encouraging William to extend an olive branch, reportedly telling him "enough is enough, and it’s high time for peace.”
Charles’s own efforts toward healing the family rift may have also influenced William’s perspective. Just weeks ago, it was reported that the monarch had urged his heir to reconnect with Harry following his own private meeting with the Duke. That meeting marked the end of a 19-month estrangement between Harry and Charles, offering a small glimpse of hope that a royal reconciliation may be on the horizon. William, however, skipped meeting his brother despite being just 8 miles away at the Women’s Institute in Sunningdale.
As for the Duke of Sussex, he may be willing to compromise this time. In the past, he had often maintained that he would not engage in royal discussions without his wife, Meghan Markle, being present. But insiders said that he “put that principle aside” for his sit-down with Charles, and may do the same for William. Even Alex Rayner, who’s a close friend of the Duke, told the Daily Mail that by the ‘end of the year’ the Prince of Wales would most likely ‘embrace’ his brother. “As soon as the opportunity presents itself, we’ll see a wonderful embrace between the two brothers. Absolutely,” Rayner said. Still, whether the brothers can rebuild trust after so many years apart is uncertain.