Prince William could find it "increasingly difficult to ignore" any reconciliation between his father, the King, and Prince Harry, according to an expert.
Sources say the Duke of Sussex is more determined than ever since quitting his royal role to reconcile with Charles and is hoping they can appear publicly together at next year’s Invictus Games in Birmingham - potentially at the opening or closing ceremony.
It comes after Harry was buoyed by his emotional reunion with his father at Highgrove last month, where the King saw Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet for the first time in four years. It is understood Harry wants to arrange further meetings with his father to allow him to spend time with his grandchildren.
Brothers' relationship remains fractured
And while it appears the King is prepared to keep lines of communication open with his youngest once-estranged son, there is little indication that the Prince and Princess of Wales share the same outlook.
William's relationship with his brother remains deeply fractured, and there is no expectation inside royal circles that Harry will be welcomed back into the wider family in any meaningful way.
Last month, when Harry, his wife Meghan and their children had a meeting with the King and Queen Camilla at Highgrove, William and Kate were almost 90 miles away at a charity polo match in Windsor.
It has been claimed that the brothers have not spoken since the funeral of their late grandmother, the Queen, in September 2022 - with Harry then aiming at both William and sister-in-law Kate in his controversial memoir Spare, in 2023.
Expert says situation could change
Since then, the Prince and Princess of Wales have focused solely on juggling their royal duties with bringing up their three children - while Kate has also faced a cancer diagnosis, treatment and is now in remission.
And royal expert and former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told the Mirror: "William, as far as we can see, seems set on concentrating on his own family and his work without the angst of dealing with his rift with Harry."
"But, if Harry does start to come to the UK more often and to see their father, it’s going to become increasingly hard for William to ignore the situation.
"Could Catherine perhaps act as peacemaker? Well, maybe. But only if she is satisfied that it is something William wants. At this stage, there is absolutely no indication that this is the case. However, circumstances and feelings can change with time and so, as I always say, ‘never say never’."
While Dai Davies, former the head of Scotland Yard’s Royal Protection Command from 1994 to 1998, added about the brothers one day burying the hatchet: "Well, never say never, as we’ve now seen him meet with his father and stepmother.
"But when you think about the things he has said in public about his brother, he [Harry] has to remember that if you wash your dirty linen in public, and it was pretty dirty linen, then you shouldn’t expect the fees for your laundry to be met."
King walks a tightrope
When Harry initially launched the Invictus Games in London in 2014, he was publicly supported by Charles, Camilla and William. However, the last time father and son spent any time together in public was in September 2022 at the late Queen’s funeral.
And while Harry is hoping for a public reunion with his father at next year’s Invictus Games, many believe it could force the King into a sticky situation regarding his sons.
Jennie added: "There’s no doubt that Charles would very much like things to be different. And it does seem as if Harry is pretty intent on patching up his troubled relationship with his father.
"Do you remember his almost Shakespearean plea to his sons: ‘Please don’t make my final years a misery?’ But it’s still a question of baby steps, and Harry‘s life remains thousands of miles away in California.
"Charles has to walk many a tightrope in his life: most of them to do with the diplomatic role that comes with being King. But he is also having to walk a tightrope in his family life as he edges closer to a working relationship with Harry – without upsetting William. And that’s a very awkward situation for a father to be in."
It comes as Harry’s trips back to the UK could be more frequent in the future - especially if he is successful in his controversial campaign to have his automatic taxpayer-funded security reinstated when he is in the country.
Security campaign continues
As the Mirror previously reported, he plans to continue to lobby the Home Secretary to complete an urgent review into his security, after he sent the department a report from his private security company claiming he is a terror target.
The duke lost a case at the High Court in February 2025 which concluded that the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) was right to downgrade his high-level police protection for when he is back in the country.
He previously argued that without the security, it was too dangerous to bring his wife and children to the UK. A spokesman for the said last month: "The Duke continues to make the case that he and his family face an enduring security risk by virtue of the circumstances of his birth and his membership of the Royal Family.
"The threats that existed while he was a working member of the institution did not simply vanish when he stepped back from official duties six years ago. They remain, and the most recent threat assessment underscores the continuing nature of those risks."
Recently, the Sussexes managed to slip in and out under the radar to meet the King at Highgrove and also visit Althorp - where Harry’s late mother Princess Diana is buried.
Days later, Meghan then posted a string of images on Instagram with the caption ‘Summer Holiday’ with the snaps showing some of their time in the UK and on holiday in Portugal.
Mr Davies said: "As was shown, he was able to go and visit his father at Highgrove without any of us knowing, so if he just kept quiet, if he came by private plane, if he came with his team who are mainly ex-royalty protection and special forces, and if they wanted they could even get him an armoured car. Everything can be done."
