Prince William reportedly ensured that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were not offered accommodation in Windsor during their recent UK visit, aiming to avoid a potentially explosive reunion between the estranged brothers, according to fresh claims.
William made his feelings clear
Woman magazine's Royal Editor Emily Andrews wrote that William was "unhappy" after Harry and Meghan's plans to visit Britain with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet became public, fueling speculation they could stay at one of the Royal Family's Windsor residences. Andrews claimed William made his feelings clear behind the scenes.
"I'm told [Prince William] made it clear that Harry and Meghan were not to be offered Windsor Castle, or indeed any royal accommodation in Windsor," she wrote. "He did not want to run the risk of seeing his younger brother – or Meghan – on his home turf."
Brutal showdown fears
The Prince and Princess of Wales live at Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor estate, close to Windsor Castle and Harry and Meghan's former UK home, Frogmore Cottage, raising the possibility the two families could have crossed paths. Andrews suggested William was keen to avoid any face-to-face confrontation, claiming a "brutal showdown" between the brothers was something he wanted to prevent "at all costs". "I'd go as far as to say that he'd snub Harry if he came anywhere near," she added.
Rift shows little sign of easing
The claims come as the rift between William and Harry continues to show little sign of easing, despite reports that King Charles is more willing to rebuild ties with his younger son. The brothers are believed not to have spent meaningful time together since attending the funeral of their uncle in August 2024, where reports suggested they largely kept their distance from one another.
Although Harry was reportedly offered accommodation at Buckingham Palace during the family's July visit, conflicting reports emerged over whether he intended to stay there. In the end, the Sussexes were not seen in Windsor at any stage of the trip. Instead, William and Catherine were away attending the DMMI Royal Charity Polo Cup while Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet met privately with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House.
William and Catherine's distancing
Royal biographer Russell Myers has also suggested that William and Catherine have deliberately chosen to distance themselves from the Sussexes in order to protect both their family and the future of the monarchy. Writing in his book William & Catherine, Myers claimed the Princess of Wales initially attempted to act as a peacemaker as relations between the brothers deteriorated. However, he alleged that by the time Harry decided to step back as a working royal, Catherine had accepted that reconciliation was unlikely.
"Sources suggest Catherine had less interest than her husband in trying to persuade Harry to stay in his current role," Myers wrote, adding that she believed William and Harry's differing roles as "heir and the spare" meant tensions had become inevitable.
Neither Kensington Palace nor representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have commented on the latest claims.
