Prince William has remained silent following reports that his brother, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle may return to the United Kingdom, a development some royal experts believe has left the Prince of Wales "seething." The estranged brothers have had a tumultuous relationship, marked by accusations and public disagreements since Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior royals in 2020.
According to former BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt, William could be "apoplectic" at the prospect of Harry's return. Hunt suggested that the presence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex back in the UK could lead to the establishment of "two rival courts, William's and Harry's." He also noted that Harry's return might make it more difficult for William to avoid a reconciliation, while also allowing Harry to deepen his relationship with their father, King Charles.
The rift between the brothers reportedly began even before Harry's 2018 wedding to Meghan, with Harry accusing William of being "snobbish" towards his then-future wife. By March 2019, the Sussexes established their own household, separating from the joint operation with William and Kate, amid reports of friction. The animosity escalated through public interviews, Harry's memoir "Spare," and the Netflix documentary series.
In his memoir, Harry described William as an "archnemesis" and recounted an alleged physical altercation over Meghan's behavior. He also claimed that William and Kate had encouraged him to wear a Nazi uniform to a party in 2005. Furthermore, Harry and Meghan suggested in their Netflix series that Kensington Palace had provided false information to protect William regarding a story about Harry being bullied out of the Royal Family.
During a meeting shortly after the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral, King Charles reportedly pleaded with his sons, asking them not to make his "final years a misery." In a separate interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan stated that Kate had made her cry before the wedding, contradicting earlier reports that Meghan had caused Kate distress over a bridesmaid dress fitting for Princess Charlotte.
Perhaps one of the most sensitive points of contention was the speculation about the skin color of Harry and Meghan's unborn son, Archie. Claims that royal family members questioned this led to Kate being labeled a racist, a situation that William may find unforgivable, especially if he perceived the criticism of Kate as more personal than any directed at himself.