The next couple of years are set to be critical for the Royals – but while Prince Harry is hoping upcoming projects might heal the ongoing family rift, an insider tells Closer it may prove challenging if Meghan Markle is involved.
The Duke – who was last week criticised for his part in a ‘damaging’ bullying row at his ex-charity Sentebale, which he’d set up in honour of his mother, Princess Diana – will see his beloved Invictus Games back in the UK in 2027, with that summer also marking the 30th anniversary of Diana’s tragic death.
And with two years until that poignant occasion, there’s plenty of time for Harry, 40, to put plans in place. An insider reveals to Closer, ‘There’s a documentary in the pipeline, and Harry wants members of the royal family at the Invictus Games supporting him and the event. Remembering Diana on the 30th anniversary of her death is also very important for her boys, and Harry is keen to mark it together.’
William and Harry with their mother, the late Princess Diana ©Photo by Anwar Hussein/WireImage
But while Harry hopes that the next few years can pave the way to a family reunion, the insider adds that it will be no easy feat getting Prince William, 43, on board. The future King is refusing to join forces with his brother if his sister-in-law Meghan, 44, is involved.
They reveal, ‘Harry desperately wants his brother’s involvement, or at least his blessing – and he wants to be able to return to his homeland without fearing tension or drama, as he strongly feels it’s what their mother would have wanted. But William is hesitant. He doesn’t want Meghan anywhere near a project about Diana. For him, it should only be about the brothers. William’s still hurt by the public attacks and sees no reason to patch things up on Harry’s timetable.’
Amid the royal fallout, both William and Harry came together in 2021 to unveil Kensington Palace’s Diana statue. However, their rift has only grown more bitter since then, and there have long been reports of bad blood between Kate Middleton, 43, and former Suits actress Meghan. In her infamous Oprah interview, the Duchess alleged that the Princess of Wales had made her cry on her wedding day – saying, ‘It really hurt my feelings.’
William and Harry have been locked in a bitter feud since 2018 ©Kirsty O’Connor/PA Wire
Now, insiders say their complicated past has left Kate also feeling wary. They reveal, ‘Each revelation – from Oprah to the Netflix documentary – left Kate’s heart sinking. Meghan creates another level of pain for Kate, and that’s something she feels can never be mended. For her, it’s done and dusted. She’ll only be in the same room as Meghan if she really has to. Kate is still nursing wounds from the past. She’s not ready for a public reconciliation.’
In a recent interview with Closer, Diana’s former royal butler Paul Burrell, 67, drew comparisons between Diana and Kate. He gushed, ‘I think Kate is continuing Diana’s legacy. I think William and Harry see me as carrying their mother’s baton as well. They know that I protect her legacy and that I’m proud to be associated with an incredible human being like Diana.’
While Kate’s following in Diana’s footsteps, our insider shares, ‘Her respect for Diana is beyond doubt, but she is not willing to stand next to Harry in a public display that feels forced.’
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Speculation around a potential royal reconciliation between the warring royals has grown since aides for the Sussexes and King Charles met for peace talks earlier this year. Closer can reveal that Prince Harry is also set to return to the UK in September for the WellChild Awards – and while he failed to secure a private audience with King Charles, 76, during his last visit, he’s determined not to miss the opportunity this year.
‘Charles is willing to talk, but he wants this to be a one-on-one meeting with no distractions – and Meghan is simply not welcome. This is about father and son, not about the Sussex brand,’ the insider says.
In the meantime, Harry is holding out hope that his family may well soften in time for his 2027 projects. The source adds, ‘Harry wants Palace backing – but that means repairing relationships first. At this rate, if Harry undertakes anything in Britain that’s deemed official, it’ll be solo – including the Diana tribute. This is what Harry’s finding hard to accept. Everything he’s doing right now is all for Diana, and he wants to make her proud – by making peace with his brother. Only time will answer whether his family will stand beside him.’
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