KEY POINT
- Royal author Christopher Andersen believes William and Harry have become accustomed to living separately and may no longer see reconciliation as realistic.
- Sources cited by People indicate there has been no progress toward repairing the relationship between William and Harry.
- Royal commentators disagree over who should take the first step toward resolving the family dispute.
The relationship between the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex remains strained, with royal experts offering conflicting views about whether the brothers can repair their bond.
Christopher Andersen, author of Kate!, told Fox News Digital that neither brother believes he has anything to apologize for. He described William and Harry as two stubborn individuals who have gradually accepted life without each other.
Andersen questioned whether major family events could still bring them together. The deaths of Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III’s coronation and the cancer battles involving the king and Catherine, Princess of Wales, did not appear to bridge the divide.
He also suggested that Harry’s return to Britain and renewed public appearances have reopened painful feelings within the royal family rather than easing existing tensions.
The disagreement reportedly extends beyond the brothers themselves. According to a source cited by People, Harry and Meghan are not currently planning to apologize to William and Kate.
This differs from an earlier Express report suggesting the Sussexes had considered apologizing over remarks made during their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey. During that conversation, Meghan revealed that members of the royal family had raised concerns about the potential skin colour of her unborn son, Archie.
British broadcaster Helena Chard believes William has little reason to forgive his brother. She said the future king once considered Harry his supportive wingman but was left to face the pressures of his royal responsibilities without him.
Andersen said Kate is disappointed by the breakdown in her relationship with Harry. According to the royal author, she once believed she could help restore the brothers’ relationship, but subsequent public criticism made that increasingly difficult.
Another royal commentator, Meredith Constant, offered a different perspective. After revisiting the Sussexes’ interview with Oprah, she argued that Harry and Meghan had spoken positively about William and Kate and did not necessarily have grounds to apologize.
Constant believes William, as the future king, should consider taking the first step toward reconciliation.
Harry has previously expressed a desire to repair his family relationships. In May 2025, he told the BBC that he would love reconciliation.
He repeated that message in an October 2026 GQ interview, describing reconciliation as the most important objective.
However, former royal press secretary Dick Arbiter argued that Harry should apologize to his family rather than expect apologies from them. He said the king’s constitutional responsibilities and the monarchy’s survival remain priorities.
Arbiter also criticized Harry’s public discussion of private family meetings, suggesting it has made rebuilding trust more difficult.
Constant questioned whether William’s continued distance from Harry could eventually make the situation appear unnecessarily hostile. She suggested that extending an olive branch could change the public narrative surrounding the brothers.
For now, there is no confirmed reconciliation agreement or indication that the brothers have resumed a close relationship. Their future relationship remains uncertain, with accountability and trust continuing to stand at the centre of the dispute.
