It’s hard to believe that Prince Harry‘s feud with the royal family still seems to be going strong years later, but if he ever wants it to come to an end, it sounds like he’s going to have to win over his brother first. One royal expert believes that King Charles won’t initiate any peacemaking conversations with Harry until Prince William is on board, and given what the future will be like for Will, it’s not surprising to hear.
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Any efforts Charles wants to make in mending his relationship with Harry will reportedly need to be done 'in tandem' with William.
According to what Robert Hardman, author of Charles III, New King, New Court, told The Daily Beast, all plans for reconciliation will need to be approved by William first.
“Whatever the king does needs to be done in tandem with both brothers, not just one,” he said. “He can’t have unilateral discussions if William isn’t in agreement.”
Whatever resolution they come to, William will have to live with long after his dad is gone.
“Whatever reconciliation or bridge-building happens, it needs to be a three-way process,” Robert said. “People keep asking about the king’s feelings, but William also has to be on board, which adds complexity. It’s tricky, and a situation nobody wants. But whatever the way forward is, it has to work for everybody.”
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That doesn't mean that it's impossible the brothers will ever get along again, though.
Robert noted that William and Harry’s bond “historically runs deep,” so it’s not a lost cause — but they do have a lot of hurdles to overcome before they can be close again.
“While we don’t see the full picture, we know they’re both very private,” he said. “Some might wonder why Harry wrote a book if he values privacy, but there’s still much they keep private. This is why William was upset by the book —not because of specific depictions, but because of the breach of trust. Things that happened between the siblings were made public, which is a huge deal for someone who values privacy like William.”
Charles also may have legal concerns when it comes to meeting with Harry.
Considering Harry’s ongoing lawsuit for security protections when he visits the United Kingdom, Charles is worried about getting in the way.
“The legal aspect is not just a handy pretext — it‘s a real concern,” Robert said. “If Harry were to interpret a simple ‘Best wishes’ from his father as an endorsement of his case [around the provision of his personal security], that could put the king in an awkward position as regards his government. People might say, ‘Why can’t they just sit down and talk?’ but legally, it’s much more complicated.”
Whatever happens with Harry, William seems 'comfortable' with taking on his dad's role as king in the future.
‘There’s a sense that he’s ready for whenever the time comes,” Robert added. “In the book, I explore what people think he might do differently as king. He’s a different character, he’s more of a regular guy. He’s not spending time reading theology or contemplating existential questions; he has a young family.”
Fingers crossed he’ll be able to rely on his brother’s love and support when that moment finally does come.
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