According to British royals expert Hilary Fordwich, Prince William has reportedly imposed an “absolute ban” on his brother, Prince Harry, from ever returning to the royal family. Fordwich shared with Fox News Digital that Prince William, now seen as the family’s “enforcer,” has taken a firm stance on the ongoing rift with his brother.
“It is well understood among the family members that Prince William has firmly prohibited Harry from rejoining the royal fold in any capacity,” Fordwich claimed. This hard-line approach mirrors that of their grandfather, Prince Philip, with William adamant about protecting the monarchy from further disruptions caused by his brother’s actions.
Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, moved to California in 2020 after stepping down from their royal duties, citing unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes from the British media. Since then, Harry has detailed his troubled relationship with his family in various interviews, a Netflix documentary, and his memoir “Spare,” further straining his ties with the royal family.
Fordwich noted that while King Charles III might be more willing to reconcile with his younger son, Prince William remains opposed. “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,” Fordwich said. However, she emphasized that Prince William is “the most unlikely royal to ever forgive Harry for all his despicable indiscretions.”
Grant Harrold, King Charles’ former royal butler, suggested to the New York Post that a public apology from Prince Harry might be the only way to mend the fractured 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 stated. Despite this, he doubted the likelihood of such an apology, citing severe damage to family relationships.
Harrold added, “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.”
Royal experts agree that Prince Harry’s potential return to the royal fold is complicated by his previous tell-alls and public criticisms. Helena Chard, a British broadcaster and photographer, told the media, “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 highlighted that Prince Harry’s actions had caused significant distress to the late Queen Elizabeth II, further solidifying Prince William’s stance. “For damage limitation and to prevent betrayal and trauma, he has cut communication with Prince Harry,” Chard said.
The possibility of reconciliation remains slim, with royal experts pointing out that the threat of further revelations, particularly another book, weighs heavily on the minds of senior royals. Ian Pelham Turner, a specialist in royal affairs, says that the possibility of a second “Spare” book remains a significant worry. It heavily occupies the minds of King Charles and Prince William, particularly regarding potential new damaging disclosures and the emphasis on the tension between the brothers.
Turner suggested that a legal peace treaty might be a way forward, where Prince Harry and Meghan agree not to disclose more royal secrets. In return, the royal family could publicly show respect to the couple, which has been lacking. “This would be a significant step towards rebuilding trust and relationships,” Turner added.
Despite the tensions, there are murmurs of hope for the future. Chard mentioned, “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.”
The future of Prince Harry’s relationship with his family hinges on many factors, including public apologies, private reconciliations, and the overarching need to protect the monarchy from further harm.