With both Prince Harry and Meghan and Prince William and Kate continuing with their work, as well as focusing on their respective families, it seems like the brotherly feud has been put on a hold.
Harry and William met during the funeral for their grandfather, Prince Philip. But things reportedly turned ugly following reports of Harry being “ambushed” by his brother and father.
Now, three weeks have gone by since the funeral. But even though time has passed, it doesn’t look like William and Harry are doing anything to mend their relationship. In fact, one royal commentator claims they haven’t spoken at all.
For what it’s worth, I believe family relationships are very tricky. In some families, they come easy and natural, but in others, it takes time to mend or rebuild trust and love once they’re broken.
Being in the Royal Family, of course, is a whole separate thing entirely. Due to its history and traditional way of doing things, up and leaving is not something one just does. At least not until they actually do.
Harry and Meghan’s royal feud
Harry and Meghan decided to leave the Royal Family in 2020. The decision sparked huge controversy at the time, mostly because it’s practically unheard of. At least not concerning someone who had such an important role within the monarchy (Harry is the brother of a future heir to the throne of England).
Even so, Harry and Meghan chose to leave the posh life in the UK and instead settled in the US. The couple bought a $14 million home in Montecito, California, and now they are raising a family there together. Their first-born son Archie has just turned 2 years of age, and this summer, Meghan and Harry will welcome their second child.
That was the reason given as to why Meghan didn’t accompany her husband to the UK for the funeral of Prince Philip.
Since the Oprah Winfrey interview, times have been rather trying for Harry and Meghan. Especially considering the reaction the Royal Family had.
The relationship between Harry and his brother William was already frosty before that infamous sit down. However, the interview turned things really sour.
William and Kate outraged
Both William and his wife Kate Middleton were said to be outraged by the interview, for a number of reasons. Meghan Markle claimed that Kate was the one who made her cry during a wedding dress rehearsals, which left the latter fuming. Harry, on the other hand, was too outspoken for William’s taste – William is rumoured to believe his brother chose “fame over family”.
Yet weeks after the Oprah interview, reports stated William was willing to give Harry one more chance.
“William thinks Harry chose fame over family,” US Weekly’s Christina Garibaldi said as quoted by Express.
“A source tells us that ‘William feels that Harry has got too big for his boots since moving to California and that success and Hollywood has gone to his head.’
In any case, it sure seems that Harry and Meghan have chosen a whole different lifestyle. Not only have they left the Royal Family and its commitments, but they’ve also launched deals with Spotify and Netflix.
Furthermore, Harry has landed his first civilian career job. He will now be working as the chief impact officer at the Silicon Valley startup company BetterUp, who offer coaching and mental health assistance. Harry will be working there as a coach, as well as advocating publicly on topics related to mental health.
“I intend to help create impact in people’s lives,” Harry told the Wall Street Journal.
Meghan & Harry’s new civil life
Since the end of 2020, the couple have also been working with their new nonprofit organization, Archewell.
Not only that, but Meghan Markle is set to become an author. Just earlier this week, she released a statement confirming said she’s publishing her first children’s book.
The Bench will be published on June 8. It’s inspired by the lovely bond between her husband Harry and their son Archie.
“The Bench started as a poem I wrote for my husband on Father’s Day, the month after Archie was born,” the duchess said in a statement. “That poem became this story.”
She added: “My hope is that The Bench resonates with every family, no matter the make-up, as much as it does with mine.”
As already mentioned, Harry and William’s relationship has been through the ringer of late. To that end, the funeral of their grandfather was a moment when many thought they’d make amends.
Outraged following funeral meeting
The fact that the two brothers were seen speaking shortly after the funeral had people believing that there was a glimmer of hope that their bond was to prevail. It could’ve been a moment where Harry and William’s fresh start began in earnest. But just days later, it certainly didn’t look that way.
Charles, Harry and William met on Saturday following the funeral. According to royal expert Angela Levin, though, Charles wasn’t planning on taking Harry’s side at all after his interview with Oprah.
In fact, Levin claims Charles is planning to “ditch” Meghan and Harry from the Royal Family once he becomes the king.
“Prince Charles has wanted for a very long time to cut the monarchy down to save costs and to make people be worth the money that they got from the taxpayer,” Levin said on TalkRADIO, as quoted by the Express.
The meeting between Charles, William and Harry following the funeral was “unproductive”. And Harry was said to have been outraged over it even taking place.
It turns out that the two-hour sit-down at Windsor Castle following the funeral of Philip was unscheduled, and that Harry felt “ambushed” by his father and brother.
Preparing for birth of second child
“The meeting after the family laid Prince Philip to rest was not scheduled. Harry felt ambushed by his dad and brother which is no way to start a peace process,” a source told Radar Online.
As one can imagine, then, Harry is far more concerned with his new life in the US. He and Meghan are said to be fully focused on the birth of their second child this summer, with Harry having taken on a lot of responsibilities at home.
“Harry is helping out around the house,” an insider told US Weekly. “He’s always such a supportive partner, but when Meghan is pregnant, Harry takes on the brunt of physical responsibilities, cooking for her and making her comfortable.”
That said, there were rumours suggesting that Harry might be feeling a little torn following the trip to the UK.
According to royal expert Paul Burrell, Harry is “totally torn” about he and his wife’s decision to step down from their roles within the Royal Family and move to the US.
“His heart is on two different sides of the Atlantic now,” Burrel told Closer. “Meghan will be faced with that dilemma – the bombshell that Harry now feels split in two.”
Harry heading back to UK?
Paul Burrell has known Harry since he was only a couple of years old, as he worked as a butler for Princess Diana for 10 years. Harry being back in the UK will undoubtedly have stirred up many emotions, he claims.
“Being back in the UK, seeing his family – the family he has criticized – is extremely difficult,” Burrell said.
“Seeing his beloved granny, the Queen, and to face his father and brother would not be easy. Even submerging himself back into the House of Windsor and the buildings that hold so many memories.”
If things go as planned, Harry will be back in the UK this summer. Together with William, he will unveil a new statue of their late mother Princess Diana. It is set to take place on July 1 in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace. That date would have marked Princess Diana’s 60th birthday.
However, things seem to have changed following his trip to the UK for Prince Philip’s funeral. Harry is said to have been “shocked” by the ice cold reception from his family upon his return. And the fact that he felt “ambushed” by his brother and father didn’t make things any better.
According to Russell Myers, royal editor at the Daily Mirror, it’s now unclear if Harry will travel to the UK for Diana’s statue ceremony. In fact, he may well use the birth of his second child as a “convenient excuse” to not “face the family”.
Latest on Harry & William
“I’m told he is still committed to coming. Both camps are. Certainly Kate and William will welcome him if he wants to come back,” Myers said on talkRADIO, as quoted by the Express.
“His intention is to come back. One may wonder, if his wife has just had a baby, I’m sure he could jump on a private jet and made a flying visit.”
“But, will it be a convenient excuse so he doesn’t have to come back and face the family?” he added.
In less than 2 months, the statue of Diana will be unveiled. For Harry and William, surely this is the time to try and repair their relationship. After all, celebrating and remembering their late mother is the most important thing.
But even though weeks have gone by since William and Harry’s last meeting, nothing hints that they are vying to mend their fractured relationship.
Kate important in mending relation
According to Nick Bullen, editor-in-chief of True Royalty TV, William and Harry aren’t talking at all at the moment. Further, it’s speculated that Kate Middleton might be the only one that can help the brothers repair their bond.
Bullen claims she was “instrumental” in any attempts made by the brothers to forge peace during the April 17 ceremony for their late grandfather.
“It’s pretty clear that the Duchess of Cambridge was doing her best to build the bridges,” he said. “Softly, softly seems to be the order of the day.”
The fact that Kate seems to want her husband and Harry to get along is particularly interesting considering her, Harry and Meghan’s background.
With the Oprah interview in mind, Kate was said to have been “furious” with Meghan regarding the claims about the tears during the dress rehearsals for Meghan’s wedding.
“Kate tried at the beginning”
At the time, William was not pleased either.
“First and foremost, William cannot countenance the way Meghan has treated his wife. He feels Kate tried at the beginning, but it was never enough,” a senior royal source told the MailOnline in April.
The source added: “To name Kate so publicly during the Oprah interview as the person who made her cry was beyond the pale. Meghan would have been acutely aware that Kate is powerless to fight back.”
Do you think Harry and William can work things out? Or are they better of with their respective family? Please, give us your opinion in the comment section.
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