Prince William understands King Charles' decision to reunite with Prince Harry but does not plan to reconcile with his estranged brother, according to royal expert Kinsey Schofield.
Schofield theorized to Page Six that William can appreciate that his father, who is battling cancer, wishes to see his son and grandchildren. However, she added that William likely believes Harry has not yet earned back the family's trust.
"Prince William probably understands why his father did it, even if he wouldn’t have done it himself," Schofield stated. "He can appreciate that a father living with cancer wants to see his son and grandchildren, while still believing that Harry has not earned his way back into the family’s confidence."
Schofield indicated that William's "priority" is "protecting the institution he’ll one day inherit." She suggested William distinguishes between family ties and trustworthiness, noting that "one afternoon at Highgrove doesn’t answer that question." According to Schofield, King Charles may focus on legacy, but "Prince William has to think about longevity."
Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted Harry, Meghan Markle, and their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, at Highgrove House. This meeting marked the first time Charles, 77, had seen his grandchildren in four years. Schofield believes this reunion does not erase past events or absolve the need for rebuilding trust. "A father can forgive. A monarch still has to protect the Crown. … One meeting is easy. Rebuilding trust is extraordinarily difficult."
William, 44, reportedly avoided his brother during Harry's recent UK visit. The two brothers made separate public appearances on July 7. William visited Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain, The London Welsh School, while Harry attended the Invictus Games Foundation Conversation: From Policy to Practice at Chatham House. The brothers have been publicly estranged for years, with Harry detailing their feud in his 2023 memoir, "Spare."
In "Spare," Harry alleged that William favored him growing up and described a physical altercation after William called Markle "difficult," "rude," and "abrasive." Harry wrote that William "grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor."
Harry, who resigned from his royal duties in 2020 and moved to California with his family, initially traveled to the UK alone, reportedly being denied taxpayer-funded security. Meghan Markle and their children later joined him, though they were not scheduled for public appearances. Photos of their reunion with Charles and Camilla were not released publicly.
During Harry's trip, a UK High Court judge ruled against Harry and six other claimants in their lawsuit against Daily Mail's publisher, Associated Newspapers, for breach of privacy. The judge found insufficient proof that stories were obtained unlawfully. The legal action reportedly cost Harry $67 million.