King Charles and Prince William have been urged to remain aligned in their approach to Prince Harry, with royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams warning that any visible divisions between the monarch and his heir could create unnecessary problems for the Royal Family.
Harry's Recent UK Visit
Harry recently visited the UK to promote the Invictus Games. He was joined by Meghan, Prince Archie, and Princess Lilibet for a private reunion with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House. It marked the first time the King had seen his two grandchildren in person since the 2022 Platinum Jubilee. The family also visited Althorp, the Spencer family estate, where they paid respects at Princess Diana's grave. Harry is expected to be back in the UK in September to attend the annual WellChild Awards in London.
Continued Estrangement with William
While relations between Charles and Harry appear to be improving, the same cannot be said for Harry's relationship with Prince William. Reports have continued to allege that the brothers remain estranged and are not currently in regular contact. Fitzwilliams believes that William's "disdain for his 'wayward' brother" could be seen from the fact that he spent the same day that Harry and Meghan reunited with Charles playing polo.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, he claimed that the future of the Royal Family relies on William and Charles having a "joint approach" when it comes to Harry's visits. Fitzwilliams described the prospect of Charles and William becoming divided over Prince Harry as the "most disastrous" outcome for the monarchy.
Fitzwilliams' Warning
"The most disastrous thing that could happen to the monarchy would be a falling out between King Charles and Prince William, who, together with his family, is its future," he said. He claimed that while the King most likely wants to connect with his grandchildren, William is more wary.
He told the news outlet: "Whilst appreciating his father's approach, William is likely to be concerned about the effects of future visits. These are likely to overshadow the valuable work the monarchy is doing in the media. It would be best if they happened privately with no one knowing and great progress might then be made, though that does not tend to be the Sussexes' way."
The royal author and commentator argued that King Charles and Prince William must present a "united front" as the monarch's relationship with Harry continues to evolve. He also said: "The optics of the way the King and William are handling this issue are fuelling reports, backed up by royal author Tina Brown last September, of serious divisions between them. Since it is essential for the future of the monarchy that they speak with one voice on substantive issues, this is damaging for the monarchy and confusing for the public."
Background of Strained Relations
The latest meeting between Charles and Harry has been viewed by many as a sign that relations may be slowly improving after several years of public disagreements. Their relationship appeared to have deteriorated following Harry and Meghan's departure from royal duties, as well as Harry's subsequent interviews, Netflix series and memoir, Spare, in which he made a number of claims about members of the Royal Family.
