The relationship between Prince Harry and the royal family is on the verge of reaching a breaking point.
Harry’s efforts to connect with his brother, Prince William, via texts, calls, and messages are similarly rejected, according to sources talking to PEOPLE for this week’s exclusive cover story. While Harry’s calls and letters to his father, King Charles, go unanswered, his attempts to connect with his brother, Prince William, are also ignored.
A source close to the royal family has said that the gap with Prince William is “very bad,” but that it is not “irreparable.”
The last time that Prince William, age 42, and Prince Harry, age 39, presented a unified front with their spouses, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, was in September 2022, when they visited mourners gathered outside Windsor Castle after the passing of Queen Elizabeth 2.
When Prince Harry attended the coronation of King Charles in May 2023, he remained on the sidelines and sat two rows behind his brother William and his family during the ceremony. During Prince Archie’s birthday celebration, Meghan stayed in the United States.
A significant amount of information suggests that the discord between the brothers started in 2016, when William voiced his reservations over the rapid pace at which Harry’s relationship with Meghan was progressing. Through the publication of his book titled “Spare,” Harry disclosed the complexity of his relationship with William, which, despite the public perception of their closeness, was comprised of friction. William was defined by Harry as both his “beloved brother and arch nemesis,” and Harry recounted incidents of verbal and even physical altercations that occurred between the two of them.
It was not possible for Prince Harry to meet with either his father or his brother when he went to the United Kingdom in May to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games. According to the spokesman for the Duke of Sussex, the reason for the lack of engagement between Prince Harry and the King is because the monarch has a “full schedule.” Nonetheless, there is a deeper problem, according to insiders close to Harry.
He has been battling for security in court for more than four years, and the Duke of Sussex feels that his father, the King, who is 75 years old, has the authority to restore him. The Duke of Sussex wanted to explain his continuing struggle for security. (The Buckingham royal has said that they would not comment on the security requirements; nevertheless, a royal source has informed People that the idea that Charles is responsible for Harry’s safety is “wholly incorrect.”)
This schism, which was brought to light for the first time in 2020 when Prince Harry and Meghan, who were both 42 at the time, resigned from their royal positions, has been defined by vehement assaults and tensions that have not been addressed. Nevertheless, according to a number of well-placed sources in Harry’s circle, the problem of security is the most important thing Harry is concerned about.
In spite of the fact that the father and son had a productive reunion in February, after the news that King Charles had been diagnosed with cancer, contact has since been more difficult. According to some who are close to Harry, the king does not answer his son’s calls or provide a response to his letters anymore.
“He gets ‘unavailable right now,'” says a buddy of Harry when asked about his availability. No one picks up when he phones back. It has been his attempt to get in touch with someone on the King’s health, but his calls have also been ignored.
In spite of the distance, the Duke of Sussex continues to be very worried about the well-being of his wife and children, Prince Archie, who is five years old, and Princess Lilibet, who is three years old. Reports indicate that he has often requested assistance from his father.
“Harry is frightened and feels the only person who can do anything about it is his father,” according to a source inside the royal family. According to a second individual who is familiar with the matter, “Harry is determined to protect his own family through any means necessary.”
A contentious debate exists on the specific factors that are preventing Harry from obtaining the protection that he is looking for. The Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC), which functions on behalf of the government of the United Kingdom, is the entity that has the authority to provide police protection inside the United Kingdom. According to the constitution, the sovereign does not have any governmental power in the country. However, Harry, whose offer to personally fund the expense of police protection was also denied in court, believes that Charles, in his capacity as King, may step in to guarantee that such security is not only extended but also expanded.
During the Sandringham Summit, which took place in January 2020 and was responsible for determining the fate of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as non-working royals, Prince Harry emerged from the meeting with the assurance that their security would be maintained throughout their transition. The meeting was attended by the future King Charles, Prince William, Queen Elizabeth, and palace staff. Court records also disclose that the Queen, who passed away on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96, considered it “imperative” for Prince Harry and Meghan to have “effective security” when they left the country. Despite this, Harry was notified that their police protection had been discontinued only a few weeks after the first notification.
“The Queen made it clear that effective security was necessary due to the threats against them, but somewhere along the line there was interference,” according to an insider inside the royal family.
On account of the fact that both parties are well established, and the fact that Harry’s brother William looks to be allied with their father, any possibility of reconciliation appears to be, at best, remote.
There are many who are close to the palace who believe that the confidence that the family has in Harry has been damaged as a result of his book Spare and public interviews. There are many who are close to the Duke of Sussex who argue that if he had enough protection, he would not be need to make public statements in order to contribute to the cost of it. According to the buddy, if the issue of security is settled, “it’s’swords down,'” and nothing “would give [Harry] more happiness than being able to rekindle his bond with his father,” the friend adds.
