Prince William is reportedly not yet ready to follow King Charles in rebuilding bridges with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, with the Prince of Wales said to have been 'unhappy' after the Sussexes briefed the press about plans to visit the UK with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in July.
Windsor accommodation denied
The announcement sparked speculation that Harry and Meghan could stay at one of the Royal Family's residences during their visit. However, according to Woman's Royal Editor Emily Andrews, William made it clear that Windsor would not be an option.
'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 in a recent issue. 'He did not want to run the risk of seeing his younger brother - or Meghan - on his home turf.'
Proximity concerns
William and Kate live at Forest Lodge on the Windsor estate, which is around a 10-minute drive from Windsor Castle and a short walk from Frogmore Cottage, the former home of Harry and Meghan. Because of the close proximity of the properties, Andrews suggested William was determined to avoid the possibility of an awkward encounter with his brother.
She claimed: 'A brutal showdown (which is what it would surely be) between the warring brothers is something that William would want to avoid at all costs. I'd go as far as to say that he'd snub Harry if he came anywhere near.'
Last meeting and final arrangements
According to Woman and Home, the last reported occasion when the brothers were in the same room together was the funeral of their uncle in August 2024, where reports alleged that they kept their distance from each other.
Whether Prince William's reported feelings played a role in the final arrangements remains unclear, but the only royal accommodation Harry was known to have been offered was at Buckingham Palace. Confusion followed, with conflicting reports from both sides over whether the Duke of Sussex would actually stay there. In the end, Harry did not use the accommodation and was not seen anywhere near Windsor, meaning William avoided the potential 'showdown'.
William and Kate were also not at Highgrove House when Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet met with King Charles and Queen Camilla. Instead, the Prince and Princess of Wales were several miles away attending the DMMI Royal Charity Polo Cup, states Woman and Home.
Brothers' relationship remains unresolved
The complicated relationship between the brothers appears to remain unresolved, despite the King's apparent willingness to improve relations. Royal biographer and editor Russell Myers has claimed that 'shutting Harry and Meghan out' has been a key decision taken by William and Kate, with the couple focused on their wellbeing and the 'protection and prosperity' of the monarchy.
In his book William & Catherine, Myers wrote that, as an 'outsider', Catherine had witnessed the deterioration of William and Harry's relationship. He claimed she attempted to act as a 'peacemaker', but that by the time Harry revealed he wanted to step back as a senior royal, Kate had developed a different view.
'Sources suggest Catherine had less interest than her husband in trying to persuade Harry to stay in his current role,' he alleged. Myers added: 'She believed William and Harry's fundamental differences as 'heir and the spare' had created the inevitability of Harry wanting more from his role than being a bit-part player.'
