Prince William is expected to feel the 'pressure' to play the 'bigger brother' role and reconcile with Prince Harry following the Duke of Sussex's return to the UK, according to royal commentator Katie Nicholl.
The Duke of Sussex relocated back to Britain with his wife Meghan and their two children earlier this week, sparking speculation about his relationship with William. Nicholl, author of The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth's Legacy and the Future of the Crown, suggests that Harry's move has put William "over a barrel", making a reunion seem more probable.
Geographical closeness adds pressure
Nicholl believes the brothers' relationship will become "very difficult" now that they are both living in the UK. Speaking to Hello, she said: "In many ways, Harry's really got William over a barrel because it will be very difficult with them being geographically so much closer and Harry being welcomed back into the royal fold by his father, at least, for William to be adamant that there will be no reconciliation."
It is thought that the siblings have not communicated with each other for the past two years, with William and Kate yet to publicly comment on Harry's return. The last occasion when Harry and William were together was in 2024 at the funeral of their uncle, Lord Fellowes, but they reportedly did not converse.
Brothers' strained history
The brothers' relationship soured after Harry and Meghan participated in a candid interview with Oprah, released a Netflix documentary, and published an autobiography titled Spare, in which William was criticised.
Nicholl suggested the future King will be experiencing "some pressure" following Harry's homecoming from the US. She explained: "There will be some pressure on William from perhaps the Archbishop or other church members."
"As a future king and a Christian member of the royal family who will one day be head of the Church of England, I think there will be an expectation and some pressure on him to step up to the plate and be the bigger of the brothers and to show forgiveness."
Reconciliation expected to accelerate
Nicholl added: "I think this move to Britain will accelerate that inevitable reconciliation which will have to come at some point."
She continued: "At the heart of this has been a massive breakdown in trust between the two brothers, and actually between the four of them (William, Harry, Kate and Meghan)."
"The one thing we know about William is he is absolutely committed to the future of the monarchy, and therefore he is in quite an unenviable position, and his hand is really being forced on this."
