The ongoing rift between Prince Harry and Prince William has escalated once again, with the Duke of Sussex facing criticism for a scheduling conflict that royal insiders have labelled as 'ridiculous'. The latest incident saw Harry's trip to Canada for Remembrance Sunday events directly coincide with his brother's significant journey to Brazil for the annual Earthshot Prize awards.
The Clashing Diaries
According to reports, eyebrows were raised within Palace circles when Prince Harry embarked on what appeared to be a faux royal tour to Toronto. The timing of his visit, which involved meeting with war veterans, directly overlapped with Prince William's long-planned trip to Rio de Janeiro for his flagship environmental initiative, the Earthshot Prize.
A spokesman for the Duke of Sussex claimed that palace communications had been made aware of the upcoming tour in advance. However, The Times reported that questions were asked within the Firm as to whether this memo had actually been sent, as nobody appeared to have received it.
A Pattern of Conflict and a Glimmer of Hope
This is not the first time the estranged brothers have experienced diary clashes during their years of bitter stalemate. Earlier this year, rumours emerged that Harry had offered to share his diary with the royal family to avoid stealing each other's thunder at high-profile appearances.
There has been some progress in other royal relationships, however. Prince Harry has started to mend his relationship with his father, King Charles, after the pair reunited for a private tea at Clarence House in September. This meeting occurred when Harry was in the UK for the WellChild Awards, signalling a potential thaw in one part of the family feud.
The Expert's Verdict: Communication is Key
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond believes the onus is now on Prince Harry to facilitate any potential reconciliation. She told the Mirror that while a reunion between William and Harry seems a distant possibility, better communication is essential for managing royal events.
"Well, they do need to get their ducks lined up if there is to be any possibility of a reconciliation," Bond stated. "I still think the chances of the rift between William and Harry being mended any time soon are extremely remote."
She was particularly critical of the latest diary clash, noting the special importance of Earthshot to William. "It seems clear that the King is willing to have some sort of relationship with Harry," Bond said. "I suppose there will inevitably be some diary clashes, but it did seem ridiculous that Harry's trip to Canada should coincide with one of the most important and major events of William's whole year."
Sources close to Harry have defended the timing, claiming the period in which he and Meghan can release details of their events is much more truncated than for senior royals. They stated this is because Harry was stripped of his security upon leaving his role as a working royal, and their team is purely guided by advice from private security advisors.
In a further twist, just before his trip, Prince Harry penned a passionate essay ahead of Remembrance Day, expressing his pride at fighting for his country and warning how easy it is for veterans to be forgotten. Jennie Bond commented on this, saying, "It seems that Harry did try to be sensitive, issuing his essay the day before the Earthshot Awards, but it was still an unhelpful distraction."
