Why Prince Harry and Prince William Will Likely Never Reconcile

The rift between brothers Prince William and Prince Harry has gone on for years—and it may never have an end in sight.

“The more time passes, the more William and Harry seem to be settling into their respective lives,” royal commentator Amanda Matta told Us Weekly for its June 25 cover story. She added that, at this juncture, there is “no open conflict, just radio silence.”

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said the brothers “are not in contact and haven’t been for a while,” and, five years on from his and wife Meghan Markle’s step back from life as working royals in 2020, “A formal return [to royal life] for Harry feels incredibly unlikely,” Matta said. “Especially if we’re talking about William offering his brother a way back. The trust isn’t there.”

Royal historian Marlene Koenig said that “William and Harry are separated by more than an ocean. There are no plans for a reconciliation. They are two brothers living very separate lives.”

After their step back, Harry and Meghan relocated from the U.K. to the U.S.—her home state of California, specifically. Harry “enjoys the freedom he didn’t have as a working royal,” Matta said. “He’s parenting on his own terms and can go on bike rides or date nights without the British press tracking his every move.”

William, meanwhile, is “embracing his new role as Prince of Wales,” Koenig said. “William goes about his job as heir to the throne without complaint. He understands the assignment—he supports the King but is also paving his own path to the top job.”

Fitzwilliams said that the pressure on the Prince of Wales is “unrelenting,” but “He’s well prepared to take on the responsibility of being King. He’s an accomplished diplomat, and his popularity here [in the U.K.] and in the U.S. is huge.”

Amid wife Kate Middleton’s cancer battle—which she announced in January is in remission—William has taken “selective time away from the public eye to protect his wife and children, carve out personal days, and assert more control over his platform,” Matta said. “It’s a quieter, more measured version of Harry’s break.”

Harry stepping back from royal duty affected not just King Charles’s current monarchy (and Queen Elizabeth’s before him), but also a future monarchy under William: “Harry left a large gap in William’s world, not just personally but practically,” a source told Us Weekly. “The whole idea was for Harry to work hand-in-hand with William and to divide and conquer during William’s monarchy. So Harry not being there is tough. He feels deserted by his brother—not that he would ever say that out loud.”

In fact, William isn’t mentioning Harry much these days, according to a June 21 report by The Times. “What has struck me the most recently is that he [William] just doesn’t mention it at all,” a friend of William’s said. “It used to be that the family stuff was taking up a lot of space in his head; it was a very close relationship [with Harry], and he was very upset.”

“But he’s not letting it get to him at all anymore,” the friend continued. “It is a change. It’s sad, but it’s a much healthier space for him to be at.”

The brothers are “worlds apart,” the insider told Us Weekly—and that (unfortunately) might never change. “Harry and Meghan are highlighting a life of fun and lightness while William’s is dominated by duty and public service,” they said.