Prince William and Prince Harry remain estranged, with no contact between the brothers despite Prince Harry's recent reunion with their father, King Charles III, at Highgrove House, according to sources. An insider told People on Tuesday that the brothers' relationship is "so broken."
Highgrove House, the King's private residence in Gloucestershire, England, holds significant familial meaning, having served as the childhood home for William and Harry. Royal author Simon Vigar noted that Princess Diana, their late mother, "would be devastated that it has turned out like this, particularly because [the brothers] were once so close."
While Harry visited his father, who is undergoing cancer treatment, Prince William opted to attend his annual charity polo match in Windsor with his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales. Their father, King Charles, along with Queen Camilla, hosted Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, at Highgrove. This marked the first time Charles had seen his grandchildren in four years.
Despite understanding his father's desire to see his son and grandchildren, Prince William reportedly believes Prince Harry has not yet "earned his way back into the family's confidence." Royal expert Kinsey Schofield stated that William's "priority" is "protecting the institution he'll one day inherit."
Schofield suggested that the reunion does not erase past events, adding, "A father can forgive. A monarch still has to protect the Crown. … One meeting is easy. Rebuilding trust is extraordinarily difficult."
Prince William previously avoided his younger brother during a UK trip in July, making separate public appearances. The estrangement between the brothers has been a subject of public discussion, particularly following the release of Harry's memoir "Spare," which detailed their strained relationship, including an alleged physical altercation.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle faced initial security concerns for their trip to the UK, having lost their taxpayer-funded security privileges in 2020 after stepping down from royal duties. The family's reunion with King Charles and Queen Camilla was not made public.