Prince William is reportedly not keen on Prince Harry and King Charles III mending their strained relationship, says journalist Petronella Wyatt.
Wyatt, a friend of Queen Camilla, sourced a “former palace official” in her column for the Daily Telegraph.
In her column, Wyatt quoted the former official who worked with both Prince William and Prince Harry as saying, “There is a public misconception about William and Harry. It is William who was often the difficult one, and it is William who is preventing his father from having a proper reconciliation with Harry.”
Wyatt highlighted that this situation is problematic, especially at a time when the nation could benefit from a united royal family. Prince Harry, 39, and his family have been estranged since he and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped down from royal duties and relocated to California in 2020.
During a recent visit to London for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, Prince Harry did not meet with any of his family members. He last saw King Charles, who is 75, briefly in February after the king’s cancer diagnosis was announced.
An associate of Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton shared with the Daily Beast that there’s some truth to Wyatt’s assertions. The friend added, “Although William wouldn’t dream of telling his father what he can or can’t do in relation to his other son. Charles’ absolute priority is the unity of the monarchy, and given the extent of William’s animosity toward Harry, Charles can hardly roll out the red carpet.”
Wyatt also argued that both Prince William and King Charles had treated Prince Harry poorly before his departure from the royal family. She opined that Prince Harry’s return would be beneficial as the royal family reflects many British families, and a family divided is inherently weaker.
During Prince Harry’s recent trip to the UK, friends of the king claimed that King Charles offered his son accommodations, but he declined. On the other hand, sources close to Prince Harry claim that he had requested a meeting with his father in advance of his trip, but King Charles declined. Friends of King Charles vehemently deny this, citing the king’s meeting with his younger son during his illness.
The tension between Prince Harry and his family reportedly escalated when Prince Harry asked King Charles to choose between him and Queen Camilla. A royal family friend told the Daily Beast, “Harry has made it very clear, very publicly, that he despises her. He has forced Charles to choose, which was a misguided decision because Camilla and he both chose each other a long time ago.”
In his memoir “Spare,” Prince Harry portrayed Queen Camilla as “dangerous” and “the villain,” further straining the relationship. He also accused Prince William of physically attacking him during a dispute about his wife, Meghan Markle, deepening the family rift.
Since the publication of “Spare,” Prince Harry has not reconciled with any family members.
