Prince William would find it exceedingly difficult to reconcile with his brother, Prince Harry, even to honor their late mother Princess Diana's memory, according to royal author Phil Dampier. Dampier suggests that the deep rift between the siblings, exacerbated by Harry's public disclosures, makes any joint commemoration of their mother unlikely.
Despite a reported pledge made in the biography Finding Freedom that the brothers would prioritize carrying on Diana's legacy together, Dampier believes this promise has been broken. "William and Harry put aside their differences for the unveiling of the statue of their mother Princess Diana [five years ago], but things are much worse now," Dampier told the Daily Mail. He added, "I think William would find it very hard to meet Harry, even to honour Diana's memory."
The approaching 30th anniversary of Diana's death in 2027 presents a potential occasion for reconciliation, but Dampier is skeptical. "Next year marks the 30th anniversary of her death, so that would be an obvious time for them to try and heal their rift and at least be seen together, but I don't think William's heart is in it," he stated. Dampier's assessment is based on conversations with friends of Prince William, who reportedly views Harry as "the past" and is focused on his own family: his wife Catherine and their children George, Charlotte, and Louis.
Dampier attributes William's stance to lingering resentment over Harry's departure from the Royal Family and the contents of his memoir Spare, as well as the Netflix series and Oprah Winfrey interview. He specifically cited the impact on Catherine, who was "smeared as a racist," as a point of unforgivable offense for William.
Further complicating any potential reunion, Prince Harry has invited his father, King Charles, to attend the Invictus Games next summer in Birmingham. However, Dampier believes William will actively avoid any overlap with his brother. "Charles may use Queen Camilla's 80th birthday as an excuse not to be present. But one thing is certain – William won't be there. He will make sure he is far away so there is no doubt he could make it," Dampier speculated. He suggested William would feel "used by Harry, just to benefit himself and his image."
The unveiling of a statue of Princess Diana at Kensington Palace on July 1, 2021, for what would have been her 60th birthday, marked one of the brothers' last joint public appearances. While the event was intended to honor their mother, observations from lip-reading experts suggested differing approaches between the siblings, with Harry appearing more relaxed and William more concerned about the precision of the unveiling.
By 2026, their commemorative efforts appear increasingly separate. Harry continues his patronage with WellChild, a charity for seriously ill children, which has dedicated funds to Princess Diana. In contrast, Prince William presented the Diana Legacy Awards in 2024, with Prince Harry participating only via a video link.
The brothers' relationship has been described as "incredibly strained" following Harry's decision to step back from royal duties in 2020 and move to the United States with his wife Meghan Markle. Despite the reported distance, Harry has been seeking to increase contact with his father, King Charles, and reportedly invited him to the Invictus Games, hoping for a public show of support and to facilitate more time with his children, Archie and Lilibet.