Prince William has reportedly enforced a strict prohibition preventing his brother, Prince Harry, from reentering the royal family, says British royals specialist Hilary Fordwich. Speaking to Fox News Digital, Fordwich revealed that Prince William, perceived as the family’s “enforcer,” has taken a hard stand regarding the ongoing family dispute with his brother.
Fordwich alleged that “it is well understood among the family members that Prince William has firmly prohibited Harry from rejoining the royal fold in any capacity.” This stringent stance mirrors that of their late grandfather, Prince Philip, with William determined to shield the monarchy from further turmoil caused by his brother’s actions.
Prince Harry and his spouse, Meghan Markle, relocated to California in 2020 after renouncing their royal roles, citing intolerable invasions of privacy and racial bias from the British press. Harry has since exposed his strained relationship with his family through several interviews, a Netflix documentary, and his memoir titled “Spare,” thereby exacerbating tensions with the royal family.
While King Charles III might be more inclined to reconcile with his younger son, Fordwich indicated that Prince William steadfastly opposes it. “If anyone will relent, it would be King Charles III, whom Prince William won’t challenge, who still misses his ‘darling boy’ and would like to see more of Prince Harry,” said Fordwich. She further stressed that Prince William is “the most unlikely royal to ever forgive Harry for all his despicable indiscretions.”
Grant Harrold, former royal butler to King Charles, suggested to the New York Post that a public apology from Prince Harry could be a potential means to repair the broken relationship. “The only way I see this happening is a public statement from Harry, where you come out and say that you were in a bad space and that [his memoir ‘Spare’] was a mistake,” Harrold mentioned. Nonetheless, he questioned the probability of such an apology due to the extensive damage inflicted on family relationships.
“Some bad things were said, and some families never patch things up, and that’s how it is… Harry has a big heart, and part of him probably wishes things would be different,” Harrold further commented.
Helena Chard, a British broadcaster and photographer, concurred with other royal experts that the possibility of Prince Harry’s return to the royal family is complicated by his earlier public revelations and criticisms. “Prince William views his brother’s behavior as unforgivable. He is adamant that he will protect his family and the monarchy from further upset. Prince Harry has crossed the trust line,” Chard informed the press.
Chard highlighted the significant distress Prince Harry’s actions brought to the late Queen Elizabeth II, further reinforcing Prince William’s position. “For damage limitation and to prevent betrayal and trauma, he has cut communication with Prince Harry,” Chard explained.
Royal experts believe the chances of reconciliation are low, with the potential for further revelations, particularly another book, looming over senior royals. Royal affairs specialist Ian Pelham Turner stated that the possibility of a second “Spare” book is a significant concern, particularly for King Charles and Prince William, due to the potential for additional harmful disclosures and the emphasis it places on the brothers’ strained relationship.
Turner proposed a legal peace treaty as a possible resolution, wherein Prince Harry and Meghan agree not to reveal more royal secrets. In exchange, the royal family could publicly demonstrate respect towards the couple, which has been absent so far. “This would be a significant step towards rebuilding trust and relationships,” Turner suggested.
Despite the prevailing tensions, Chard hinted at potential optimism for the future. “Prince Harry may be welcomed back into the royal fold in the future if he is genuinely sorry for the hurt his actions have caused, and he works on rebuilding the trust he has lost,” she said.
The future of Prince Harry’s relationship with his family hinges on various factors, including public apologies, private reconciliations, and the overarching need to safeguard the monarchy from further damage.
