Prince William reportedly foresaw a significant crisis in his relationship with his brother, Prince Harry, and took pre-emptive action by calling upon a trusted former Palace aide for help, according to a royal expert.
William's Premonition of Royal Rift
In her bestselling book Palace Papers, author Tina Brown details how the future king predicted major familial strife when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex decided to step back from royal duties. This decision, made roughly 20 months after their wedding, led William to express his concerns at a London charity function in November 2019.
"William apparently said to him with a worried air, 'We may need you to come back for a bit. I'm afraid the wheels are going to fall off with Harry,'" Brown wrote of the exchange between William and the retired aide.
The Fundamental Conflict: Royalty vs. Celebrity
The core of the problem, as outlined by Brown, was the Sussexes' desire for a 'half-in, half-out' model of royal life. This vision, which aimed to blend commercial ventures with official duties, created immediate and profound conflicts of interest that were seemingly clear to everyone except Harry and Meghan themselves.
One major sticking point was the near-impossible task of separating profit-driven projects from state-funded work. Brown gave the example of the couple potentially filming a paid Netflix documentary immediately after an official, taxpayer-funded Commonwealth tour, an act that would likely cause public outrage.
Another critical issue was the question of continued taxpayer-funded police protection for the couple and their children after their departure. These dilemmas boiled down to a single, unresolved identity crisis: were the Sussexes celebrity royals or royal celebrities?
"A royal is representing Crown and country. A celebrity is representing himself or herself," Brown noted, suggesting the summer of 2019 marked the couple's decisive pivot towards the latter.
A Strained Relationship and a Potential UK Return
The fallout from 'Megxit' has resulted in a deep and lasting estrangement between the brothers. It is reported they have not spoken since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, and sources indicate William currently has no desire to reconcile.
However, the start of 2026 could see Prince Harry increasing his visits to the UK. This possibility hinges on an ongoing review of his security arrangements. Harry has been engaged in a lengthy legal battle to have his automatic police protection reinstated for UK visits since it was removed after he and Meghan quit as working royals and moved abroad.
After losing a Court of Appeal case against the Home Office in May, a new development emerged last month. Harry wrote to the new Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, requesting a fresh risk assessment from the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec).
A source close to the Sussexes told the Mail on Sunday that, following this new assessment, the restoration of security is now considered a "formality," with Home Office sources indicating it is "nailed-on for Harry." A ruling is expected in the coming weeks.
Should he win this fight, it would pave the way for more frequent trips to Britain, potentially allowing for more time with his father, King Charles. Yet, it appears any thaw in the profound frost between the two brothers remains a distant prospect.
