Prince William has been encouraged to take inspiration from Prince Harry and seek reconciliation after years of estrangement – as he sets to become King
Samantha Masters Content Editor
10:29, 23 Jan 2026Updated 10:30, 23 Jan 2026
Prince William and Prince Harry have been estranged for many years (Image: )
A royal expert said there is an ideal opportunity for Prince William and Prince Harry to have a “heart-to-heart” and finally mend their rift. With William set to become King, former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond said assuming the role while still embroiled in an “exhausting and damaging” feud with his brother would be far from ideal.
Suggesting when reconciliation might be most probable, Jennie put forward Harry’s Invictus Games, which will next take place in Birmingham next year.
Writing in The i Paper, amid Harry’s High Court battle against the publisher of the Daily Mail, she said: “So, with his white flag raised, Harry may be looking for an opportunity to establish a peace treaty.
“And that could be his Invictus Games, which will be held in Birmingham next year. [King] Charles, [Queen] Camilla and William were all on parade to support Harry at the inaugural games in 2014.
“Is it possible that they’ll be there again? It could present the perfect platform for a public reconciliation.”
The royals at The Invictus Games opening ceremony in 2014(Image: GETTY)
She added: “A lifetime of feuding is exhausting and damaging. William’s reign would be so much easier without the baggage of family estrangements.”
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle stepped back from their senior roles in 2020 and have since released a documentary about what prompted that decision.
The royal has also published an autobiography called Spare, in which he detailed a feud between him and his brother.
While he no longer holds royal duties, Jennie emphasised that he will forever remain part of the family and therefore believes they ought to reconcile.
“Harry is always going to be the son of a king, the brother of another and the uncle of a future monarch,” she wrote.
“You can take the man out of the Royal Family, but you can’t take the Royal Family out of the man.”
Looking ahead, the royal expert proposed that Prince William could take lessons from his younger sibling.
“So, just as Harry seems to have calmed his anger, perhaps William too should try to come to terms with all that has happened, and look to the future,” she added.
Prince Harry is currently in the UK(Image: GETTY)
“I doubt that the brothers can ever be truly close again – but as they grow older, perhaps they can at least have some sort of civil relationship.”
Harry is presently in the UK to provide evidence in a court case against the publisher of the Daily Mail. According to reports, he is not expected to see Charles during this time.
The father and son pair last saw each other face-to-face last year at Clarence House. This came after he told BBC News: “I would love a reconciliation with my family.”
Mentioning his father’s health, following his cancer diagnosis, he added: “I don’t know how much longer my father has.
“He won’t speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile.”