This post has been updated since it was originally published to include recent facts
Despite putting on somewhat of a united front for their grandmother’s funeral last month, it doesn’t look like Prince William, 40, and Prince Harry, 38, will *ever* be the close brothers they once were, as the new Prince of Wales has said that he “can’t forgive” his younger brother for what he has done over the past few years. Ouch!
Prince William And Prince Harry Feud
According to royal expert Katie Nicholl, whose new book The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth’s Legacy and the Future of the Crown just been released, Prince William reportedly found it very "difficult" when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down as senior royals in January 2020, and it not only affected him, but also his wife, Kate Middleton, the new Princess of Wales, and their three children, Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 7, and Prince Louis, 4.
"When Harry stepped back from his royal duties, it was very difficult for William, and I think that’s partly why this rift hasn’t been resolved, because, you know, William can’t completely forgive Harry for what he’s done," Nicholl told Us Weekly.
"It had a huge impact on him, on Princess Catherine, on their young family. It put them in that prime sort of center. It moved them center stage far sooner than they would otherwise have been," she added.
Prince William Reportedly Thinks Prince Harry Showed "Great Disrespect"
"I think William had always expected that he would have the support of his brother. And I think it wasn’t just that Harry had chosen to leave and to stand down. I think a lot of it was how he chose to do that and what William saw as great disrespect to the institution and to his, to his family, to his grandmother."
Nicholl also went on to reference the fact that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex didn’t actually want to step back from their roles entirely and were first seeking part-time positions, but unfortunately, they couldn’t! "I think, ultimately, it did have to be black and white because this was about preserving the reputation and the integrity of the Crown and the institution," she said, in reference to the Sussexes wanting part-time roles. "And so, while Harry and Meghan had hoped there would be a third way, for the Queen, it was very simple. You are either in or you are out."
"It Is Charles' Intention To Heal This Family Rift"
However, despite many insiders suggesting that Prince William may never be able to forgive his brother – after all, they couldn’t mend the rift following the deaths of their grandparents – Nicholl thinks that there could still be hope, as King Charles fully intends to bring them together once and for all!
"It is Charles' intention to heal this family rift, to try and to try and work things out, because he knows that this will hang over his reign," Nicholl said. "There cannot be this discord at the heart of the royal family," she added, before going on to confirm that there is "a way to go," and "any suggestion that there’s been a long term and meaningful reconciliation would be wide of the mark."
"Fractured" Relationship
It seems like the imminent release of Prince Harry's bombshell memoir, titled Spare in reference to the cruel media "heir and a spare" jibes about the brothers, is going to be as problematic as everyone feared. According to royal commentator Daniela Elser, there are many fears that the memoir, which will be released on January 10th, 2023, could damage the already very "fractured relationship" between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and the rest of the royal family. And as a result, there could be no going back!
Prince Harry’s calling his memoir “SPARE” is absolutely iconic. A perfect book title. pic.twitter.com/l9dnGk1Tud
— Gibson Johns (@gibsonoma) October 27, 2022
"If he is going to tell-all in the most literal sense, it could very likely represent the final torching of whatever rickety bridges remain between himself and his family," Elser said, before mentioning that the memoir's post-Christmas release date could, on the other hand, mean that the Duke of Sussex has been successful in toning down some of the content, therefore making it less of a "bombshell" book and therefore not as interesting to the public.
"Could the timing of Harry’s book coming out be a ploy to ensure that it gets to number one on the bestseller lists given the possible lack of competition?" Elser asked, in reference to the many books that are released around the coveted Christmas gifting period. "Could it be that the finished manuscript is far less explosive than anyone might have thought? It would be perfectly understandable if Harry has been having second, third or 17th thoughts about this autobiography."
The Royal Family Have 'Great Private Concern' About The Impact Of Prince Harry's Memoir
Prince William has made no secret of his disapproval over younger brother Prince Harry's recent behavior, a royal expert has said; in particular, the fact that his bombshell memoir Spare is still being released after the very challenging year the royal family has had!
Although Prince William and the rest of the royal family are still keen to adopt the 'never complain, never explain' mentality associated with the royals, it’s reportedly an entirely different story behind closed doors. According to royal expert Simon Heffer, there is "great private concern" about the impact the memoir is having on the "upper echelons" of the royal family, with Heffer writing in The Telegraph that the new Prince of Wales is "appalled at his brother’s general behavior" and he "simply can't believe the book is coming out at all."
Telegraph: Prince William can be 'a self-righteous and spoilt little --': A few days ago, the Telegraph published a very off piece of royal analysis – by someone named Simon Heffer – about what King Charles can and should do in the next year. There's… https://t.co/oTSoFkwg9L
— Gossip Bucket (@GossipBucket) November 17, 2022
"Although someone who knows Prince William says he can be 'a self-righteous and spoilt [expletive]' there is no doubt he has the best interests of The Firm at heart in deploring the Duke's conduct," Heffer continued, before going on to suggest that Prince Harry's former friends think he will not "enjoy living in exile in America for very much longer," and is reportedly already worried about his older brother not being willing to "accept a reconciliation" if and when he and Meghan return to the UK.
King Charles Faces His Biggest Test As Monarch Following Release Of 'Spare'
"From afar, the King must manage his younger son," Heffer continued, in reference to King Charles, whose biggest test not only as a father, but also as a monarch, he says, is how he handles the fallout from the book. "Courtiers feel he would welcome him, and the Duchess, back to these shores to live permanently – unless the book is indeed deeply damaging, in which case bridges may finally have been burnt." He added: "The moment when he comes at last to read his younger son’s book is likely to be by far the most challenging of the year ahead. His response to it will demonstrate not just how good a father, but how good a King, our new monarch is."
