Was Prince William Informed Prior to Prince Harry's Homecoming Announcement?
A royal expert noted that Prince William does not want to run the risk of seeing his younger brother—or Meghan.
Prince Harry stepped down from royal duties in 2020, and after six years, he will be returning to the UK by the end of this month along with his family. The Duke has remained estranged from Prince William after making shocking revelations about the royal family in his memoir Spare and subsequent media interactions. In July, royal sources exclusively told People that Harry's repeated attempts to establish communication with his brother through texts, calls, and messages were consistently ignored. As the news of the Sussexes' homecoming gains ground, is it possible that the Prince of Wales was informed of the move through a personal channel beforehand?
In July, the Prince and Princess of Wales actively avoided being present at Highgrove when King Charles held an audience with the Sussexes after almost four years. They also maintained a deliberate distance from the Duke while carrying out various charity endeavors in the city.
However, when the BBC reported the Duke and Duchess's decision to reverse their "Megxit" plans, it was disclosed that His Majesty learned of the move on August 16th, adding that the "Prince and Princess of Wales have also been informed of their plans." Though it is possible that the subject was brought to light via the King, the wording suggests they may have been informed of their own accord. The Sussex team may have shared news with William indicating a significant development, although it's unclear if it was shared personally by his younger brother.
The last reported face-to-face meeting between the Duke of Sussex and the Prince of Wales occurred in August 2024 when they attended the funeral service for their uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes. However, sources at the time noted that the two brothers kept their distance and did not interact.
William has openly resisted any attempt at a reunion with Harry. According to Woman & Home Magazine, royal editor Emily Andrews noted that the Prince of Wales has "made it clear that Harry and Meghan were not to be offered Windsor Castle, or indeed any royal accommodation in Windsor" during their UK visit. She added, "He did not want to run the risk of seeing his younger brother—or Meghan—on his home turf."
As the 30th anniversary of Princess Diana's death approaches on August 31 of next year, it remains to be seen whether the two brothers will unite to honor their mother's memory. Back in 2024, their appearances at the Diana Legacy Award were carefully coordinated to avoid overlap: William delivered an in-person speech, while Harry joined via video call only after William had departed the venue.
In 2023, The Daily Beast reported that the Duke had expressed a desire to reconnect with his father and brother as a family rather than an institution. While he seems to have granted that wish regarding King Charles, whether he can repair his relationship with William remains a question only time will answer.
