Royal Rift Deepens as William's 'Strategic Absence' During Harry's Court Visit Signals 'No Way Back'
A former royal editor has suggested that Prince William's recent official engagements were carefully timed to avoid being in the same city as his brother Prince Harry during a High Court appearance, in what appears to be a deliberate move highlighting the severe and ongoing rift between the siblings.
'More Than Coincidence': Orchestrated Avoidance
According to royal expert Duncan Larcombe, William's schedule during Harry's recent trip to the UK to deliver evidence in court spoke volumes about the current state of their relationship. While Harry was at London's High Court presenting a 23-page witness statement as part of his case against Associated Newspapers Limited, William was hundreds of miles away on official royal business.
"Court cases notoriously never start when they say they're going to, so it wasn't a set-in-stone date for this trial," Larcombe told the Mirror. "But it seems to be more than just a coincidence that William had taken himself out of the country, ensuring he was nowhere near Windsor, or where Harry might be. It wasn't the first time he was out of town when Harry had a court hearing."
The Last Meeting and Growing Distance
The brothers were last in the same room together in August 2024 at the funeral of their maternal uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes, who was married to Princess Diana's older sister Jane. Prior to that significant family gathering, it is believed they hadn't spoken to one another for several months, marking a steady deterioration in their once-close relationship.
Larcombe, who spent years reporting on the brothers as a royal editor, recalls a very different dynamic between William and Harry in earlier years. "They used to bounce off each other – they were absolutely great together," he says. "They didn't come across as rivals, they came across as two brothers that enjoyed a lot of banter."
Broken Trust and Public Betrayals
The expert suggests that Harry's numerous public revelations and criticisms have "completely broken" William and Kate Middleton's trust. Notably, Harry and Meghan Markle's bombshell Oprah interview and the release of his memoir, Spare, in 2023 are cited as particularly damaging actions that have contributed to the current impasse.
"William is still incredibly angry at his brother," says Larcombe. "Harry's actions and words would have caused huge, almost irreparable damage to a normal family. The fact it is happening within the royal family adds to the magnitude of how badly Harry has behaved in William's eyes."
'No Way Back' But 'Never Say Never'
The current assessment of the relationship appears bleak, with Larcombe suggesting there's "no way back" at present. "So at the moment there's no way back and it looks as if William doesn't have an ounce of sympathy for his brother, or an ounce of support for him," he explains.
However, the royal expert does leave a small window of possibility for future reconciliation, adding the cautious note: "But you can never say never." This sentiment reflects the complex and often unpredictable nature of family relationships, even within the structured environment of the royal family.
The Duke of Sussex was in the UK to deliver his witness statement as part of his evidence against Associated Newspapers Limited, with the prince being one of seven high-profile people accusing the company of "grave breaches of privacy" over a 20-year period. ANL denies any wrongdoing.
