Royal expert Jennie Bond has claimed that Prince Harry appears to be extending an olive branch to his brother Prince William, suggesting the Duke of Sussex is actively seeking to mend their fractured relationship. According to Bond, all current indicators point towards Harry attempting to wave the "white flag" of peace towards his royal relatives, with a particular focus on reconciling with the Prince of Wales.
The Longstanding Royal Rift
The once inseparable brothers have been locked in what observers describe as a bitter silence since the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022. The relationship between Prince Harry and Prince William, along with Princess Kate, reportedly began deteriorating seriously around the time of Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018. Despite attempts at reconciliation before the Sussexes' departure from royal duties, including what Harry described as a tense meeting, these efforts proved largely unsuccessful.
Subsequent years saw numerous revelations from Harry, including the explosive Oprah Winfrey interview in 2021 and the publication of his memoir Spare, which portrayed his relationship with William as competitive and fraught with tension. These disclosures appeared to worsen the situation between the brothers, creating what seemed like an insurmountable divide within the royal family.
A Potential Platform for Peace
Jennie Bond suggests that Harry may be looking for an opportunity to establish what she terms a "peace treaty" with his brother. The royal expert specifically points to next year's Invictus Games, scheduled to be held in Birmingham, as a potential platform for public reconciliation. "Harry may be looking for an opportunity to establish a peace treaty," Bond wrote for the i newspaper.
She recalled that King Charles, Queen Camilla, and Prince William all publicly supported Harry at the inaugural Invictus Games in 2014. "Is it possible that they'll be there again?" Bond questioned. "It could present the perfect platform for a public reconciliation."
William's Reported Resistance
Despite these potential overtures from Harry, Bond notes that Prince William has thus far shown little interest in mending the rift with his younger brother. According to the expert, William has demonstrated notable stubbornness over the years and has never responded well to being told what to do by others.
However, Bond observes that the significant challenges William has faced in recent years, including his father's cancer diagnosis and his wife's health concerns, appear to have brought about a change in perspective for both the future King and Queen. "William has of late become less guarded about his emotions," writes Bond. "Perhaps the time has come for a heart-to-heart with his brother. A lifetime of feuding is exhausting and damaging."
Contrasting Approaches to Reconciliation
King Charles has already taken initial steps toward rebuilding his relationship with his younger son, from whom he was largely estranged for a period. Although Harry attended his father's coronation in 2023, he did not hold a prominent position during the ceremony, while William took centre stage, swearing to be his father's "liege man of life and limb."
Royal expert Afua Acheampong-Hagan suggests there's a key difference between William's attitude and the monarch's approach to reconciliation. "Maybe Charles recognises his wrongs," Acheampong-Hagan told the Mirror. "Harry has said the quiet part out loud. Charles has made some mistakes over the years, and he has to have some sort of accountability."
The expert continued: "He probably thinks to himself, 'I played a part in why my son now feels the way that he does'. That's probably why he is more open to reconciliation than William is."
Security Concerns and Family Dynamics
Harry's ongoing security concerns have complicated potential family reunions in the United Kingdom. The Duke claimed last year that his father was not speaking to him amid a long-running legal battle with the Home Office regarding the removal of his taxpayer-funded police protection. Although Harry eventually lost that legal challenge, his security arrangements are currently undergoing an official risk assessment.
Reports suggest the verdict may favour Harry, which could potentially enable more frequent visits to the UK, possibly accompanied by Meghan and their children. Currently, King Charles has spent limited time with his Sussex grandchildren, as Harry has repeatedly expressed concerns about their safety without proper police protection in Britain.
Last year marked a tentative step forward when Harry and Charles shared tea during the Duke's UK visit, spending nearly an hour together at Clarence House. This encounter represented the fragile beginnings of what could become a more peaceful chapter in their father-son relationship, though the path to full reconciliation with Prince William appears more complex and uncertain.
