Where Prince Harry & Prince William Stand After Years-Long Feud

Prince Harry only had one momentous family reunion during his latest trip to the U.K.

Following a roughly hour-long meeting with King Charles III at Clarence House on September 10th – their first face-to-face conversation in 19 months – Prince Harry described his father as being “great.”

Although usually private about what happens within the royal family, this recent sharing of information was a positive sign that Harry – who will be 41 on September 15th – has been hoping for, indicating a potential improvement in relationships.

In an interview with the BBC in May, he expressed a desire to mend relationships with his family, saying that ongoing conflict isn’t worth it and life is too valuable to waste on fighting.

It’s still unclear if Prince William also wants to repair his relationship with Harry. Although Harry met with Charles, leading people to wonder if he’d also meet with William, reports indicate Harry left the UK without seeing his brother.

It wasn’t unexpected that Harry and William hadn’t been in touch, given years of distance between them. In an interview with Anderson Cooper on *60 Minutes* in January 2023, Harry admitted they weren’t speaking, but expressed hope they could eventually find a way to reconcile.

Given that Harry and Charles weren’t getting along just recently, really anything could happen.

After learning in February 2024 that his father, the King, was being treated for cancer, Harry immediately went to visit him. However, Harry, who now lives in California with his two children, revealed in May that his father had stopped speaking to him.

Harry said a major disagreement remained: he was still trying to convince the U.K. government to provide security for his family when they visited Britain.

After losing his appeal, Harry explained to the BBC that he never wanted the person to get involved. He simply asked them to allow the professionals to handle the situation.

At the same time, the Spare author said, “I don’t know how much longer my father has.”

Pictures released by the *Mail on Sunday* in July showed staff from Prince Harry’s team talking with a communications aide for King Charles. This suggested they were having discussions, leading people to believe a meeting between the two could happen soon.

And a reunion between father and son was in the cards.

Prince Harry traveled to the U.K. on September 8th to attend the WellChild Awards. He began his visit by paying his respects to Queen Elizabeth II, laying flowers at her gravesite on the third anniversary of her passing.

Charles spent the beginning of the week at Balmoral Castle in Scotland with Queen Camilla before they both returned to London on September 10th. Besides welcoming Prince Harry to Clarence House, the 76-year-old also led an investiture ceremony and met with his advisory council, along with handling other official duties.

William departed the same day, traveling to Cardiff, Wales, to check out a new mental health facility located at Principality Stadium.

According to a spokesperson for Prince Harry, he was very happy to be back in the UK. The day after meeting with his father, Charles, the spokesperson told Page Six that Harry enjoyed reconnecting with friends and colleagues, and was pleased to continue supporting charities that are important to him.

As Harry explained in his 2023 memoir, *Spare*, and in many interviews, the relationship with his brother William began to fall apart well before he and Meghan Markle stepped down as senior royals and moved to the United States in 2020.

Honestly, when Harry talked about it in that ITV special, Harry and Meghan: An African Journey, it just broke my heart. He said most of the drama was just…made up! Can you believe it? But even through all that, he still talked about them as brothers, saying they had their good days and bad days. It was so raw and real, and just showed how complicated things were, even with family. I’ve rewatched that clip a million times, seriously!

As the first in line to become king, William hasn’t publicly commented on his current relationship with Harry.

The last time Harry and his family were seen together publicly was at the Queen’s funeral on September 19, 2022, where they participated in the procession. While Harry attended his father’s coronation on May 6, 2023, he didn’t take part in the traditional family photo on the Buckingham Palace balcony afterward.

In August 2024, the brothers attended the funeral of their uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes, at St. Mary’s Church in Norfolk. They were there to honor the memory of Princess Diana’s brother-in-law, but they didn’t appear to speak to each other.

William and Harry haven’t publicly commemorated their mother together since July 1, 2021. On that day, they jointly unveiled a statue of Princess Diana at Kensington Palace to mark what would have been her 60th birthday.

Royal biographer Andrew Morton told People magazine in August that Princess Diana would have definitely tried to help Prince William and Prince Harry resolve their differences. He believes that if she were still alive, they would have found a different path to reconciliation.

Keep reading to catch up on the twists and turns of Prince Harry and Prince William’s feud:

In his memoir, *Spare*, Prince Harry remembers being thrilled for his brother, Prince William, and William’s wife, Kate Middleton, to meet Meghan Markle. He says he was somewhat upset when William reportedly cautioned him to take things slowly, allegedly saying, “She’s an American actress, Harold, so be careful – anything could happen.” Harry clarifies that this is how he remembers the conversation.

Harry recalled introducing Meghan to William in October 2016. Meghan, known for being affectionate, immediately went to hug William, but he initially stepped back. Harry said William quickly recovered and soon had a friendly conversation with Meghan.

Kate didn’t attend the initial meeting, with William explaining she was occupied with the children. However, Meghan later shared in the 2022 Netflix docuseries *Harry & Meghan* about a similar awkwardness with Kate when they first met in early 2017. Despite this, things weren’t entirely strained. According to Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand’s 2020 book, *Finding Freedom*, Kate encouraged Meghan to contact her whenever she needed support, acknowledging the challenges Meghan faced as someone new to royal life.

The British newspapers were only guessing about Harry and Meghan’s relationship for months. Confirmation that they were a couple finally came on November 8, 2016, in a statement from Kensington Palace. The statement called Meghan Markle Harry’s girlfriend and strongly criticized the media for invading her privacy. It also condemned the racist and sexist comments being made about her online.

In his book *Spare*, Harry shared that his father and brother strongly scolded him for a statement he made. They were upset, believing it implied they hadn’t adequately defended their partners from media harassment.

Rumors circulated that the family disapproved of Harry’s actions, leading Kensington Palace to issue a statement on November 27th. The statement confirmed William’s understanding of the privacy concerns and his support for Harry’s desire to help those he cares about.

According to Prince Harry’s memoir, *Spare*, William initially reacted negatively to Harry’s relationship with Meghan and later attempted to slow down Harry’s proposal plans.

Harry revealed that William cautioned him against rushing into an engagement, questioning if he was certain about his partner and warning him about the challenges ahead.

To which Harry recalled replying, “‘What do you want me to do? Fall out of love with her?'”

According to the book *Finding Freedom*, a mutual friend said William was simply trying to protect Harry from being caught off guard by romantic feelings.

The day before Harry’s wedding, William and Harry appeared as friendly as ever while greeting people near King Edwards Gate. However, according to Harry’s book, *Spare*, William attempted to cancel what Harry thought would be a final pre-wedding dinner with him – similar to how they’d spent the night before William’s own wedding.

Despite the difficulties we’d been having, I truly believed we still had a strong connection,” Harry wrote. After meeting with the queen and waving to the crowds, “I invited him to dinner, and suggested he could stay overnight, like he had before his wedding. He agreed to come for dinner, but said he wouldn’t be able to stay the night.

In his memoir, *Spare*, Harry questioned whether his brother was hurt by not being asked to be his best man. He also wondered if his brother was bothered that he’d chosen his longtime friend, Charlie van Straubanzee – a schoolmate from childhood – instead.

According to Harry, William readily believed negative stories about Meghan published in the tabloids. Harry was deeply upset that his family didn’t seem to want to defend Meghan, even after their wedding on May 19, 2018. The situation escalated during a nighttime visit from William, while Meghan was out of town. Their discussion turned into a heated argument, and Harry claims William physically attacked him, grabbing his collar and knocking him to the ground.

Harry wrote that he later told his therapist he was proud of himself for not hitting William back.

Harry has explained, in his book *Spare*, the *Harry & Meghan* documentary, and various interviews, that there was a calculated exchange between the royal family and the British media – a system of give and take.

In a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, he described a system where the institution showed significant favor to some journalists, expecting positive coverage in return. He called this an “invisible contract,” explaining that maintaining a good public image was crucial for the institution’s future.

As I’ve learned from speaking with Prince Harry, it wasn’t just about information *leaking* – there was active manipulation happening too. He described situations where one family member’s team might deliberately share negative information about another, just to suppress an unwanted story. It’s a really unsettling picture of internal conflict. He and William actually made a promise to each other years ago that they’d never use their communications teams to harm each other, and it’s heartbreaking to hear that vow was broken.

Starting in 2018, as Harry and William’s relationship deteriorated, Harry claimed William broke a promise they’d made to protect each other from negative press. Harry stated he’d rather face public criticism than participate in a system where they traded stories about each other. He found it deeply upsetting to see William’s team engage in the very behavior they had both agreed to avoid.

For ten years, William and Harry shared office spaces, and Kate joined them after marrying William in 2011. Reports surfaced in October 2018 suggesting that William and Kate, and Harry and Meghan, were considering separate households.

On November 24, 2018, Kensington Palace announced that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would be moving from their home at Nottingham Cottage in London. They were moving to Frogmore Cottage, located in the Home Park at Windsor, to prepare for the arrival of their first child. Their new home would be further away from Prince William and Kate’s residence at Kensington Palace.

The royal family typically presents a united front during the holidays, which is why it wasn’t until March 24, 2019, that Queen Elizabeth II officially announced the separation. She confirmed she had approved Harry and Meghan establishing their own office and household, based at Buckingham Palace.

Harry noted in Spare the announcement came “soon after” his and William’s dust-up.

In April 2019, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle launched their Sussex Royal social media accounts. Then, in June, they announced plans to separate from The Royal Foundation – a charity originally created with Prince William – and start their own independent charitable organization.

During a September 2019 trip to Africa – documented by ITV cameras and featuring his then-5-month-old son, Archie – Prince Harry spoke with journalist Tom Bradby about reports of a strained relationship with his brother, William. Harry explained that most of the rumors were fabricated, but acknowledged that, like any siblings, they experienced both good and bad times.

Harry admitted things have changed, but emphasized that he and his brother will always have a strong bond. They’re currently leading different lives and don’t get together as often due to busy schedules, but he loves his brother very much and knows he can always count on him, just as his brother can count on him.

Oh my gosh, I remember watching that interview-it was October 20, 2019, as part of *Harry & Meghan: An African Journey*, and it was just…everything. Everyone was saying William and the rest of the family were absolutely furious that Harry and Meghan had been so open, but honestly, a source close to William told the BBC that he wasn’t *angry*, he was just…worried sick. They said Harry and Meghan seemed really, really fragile, and that’s what he was focused on, not some supposed ‘sharing too much.’ It broke my heart to hear that, honestly. He just wanted them to be okay!

I was absolutely floored when I heard! After taking some time off around Christmas – can you believe they didn’t spend it at Sandringham with the Queen and the whole family?! – Harry and Meghan announced on January 8th, 2020, that they were stepping down as senior royals. They wanted to move to North America and become financially independent, but they *said* they still wanted to fully support the Queen. It was just… a lot to take in, honestly. I’ve been following their story so closely, and this felt like such a huge shift. I couldn’t stop thinking about it!

Following news that the Queen was aware her grandson was struggling, she was surprised by the public announcement of their decision. The palace responded by saying there were many details still to be worked out regarding Harry and Meghan’s departure. The Queen then called an urgent meeting with Charles and William, as William had recently become more involved in important discussions with the monarch.

According to London’s *Sunday Times*, Prince William confided in a friend that he and his brother are now living separate lives, something he finds deeply upsetting. He said he’s no longer able to offer the same level of support as he always has. William expressed hope they can eventually reconcile and work together, stating he wants everyone to be united and on the same side.

As someone who follows the royal family closely, I remember being quite surprised when Harry and William felt the need to address a story that was circulating back in January 2020. It claimed William had been difficult towards Meghan, and that contributed to their decision to step back as senior royals. They put out a joint statement, and it was clear they were upset not just about the false reporting, but also about the way the story was framed. Considering how much both brothers champion mental health awareness, they rightly pointed out that using inflammatory language like that could be really damaging and was frankly, offensive. It was a strong message about responsible reporting, and protecting people’s wellbeing.

Only, according to Harry, that statement was attributed to him without his knowledge.

It really struck me when Harry talked about it in the Netflix documentary. He said no one even bothered to ask if he was okay with them releasing a statement in his name, which was shocking. What bothered him – and honestly, broke my heart – was that they were so quick to lie to defend his brother, but for years, they refused to stand up for him and Meghan when they were the ones needing protection. It just felt so unfair to hear him share that.

Following negotiations between Harry, William, Charles, and the Queen about the terms of Meghan and Harry’s departure – including retaining their royal titles but not profiting from them, and losing government-funded security – Harry and Meghan came back to London for a final week of official engagements.

The last time Harry and Meghan were seen with Kate and William in public was at a Commonwealth Day service on March 9, 2020, at Westminster Abbey. They wouldn’t be photographed together for over two years after that.

The COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns began shortly after, separating the couple across different continents. This made the official start of their new life on March 31st surprisingly low-key.

When Prince Harry and his wife sat down for a revealing interview with Oprah on CBS in March 2021, it seemed like they were sharing incredibly personal details. However, looking back, Harry actually didn’t reveal much about the difficulties in his relationship with his brother, William.

You know, people are going to keep talking about all of this, and Oprah’s right, a lot *has* already been said. But I want to be clear: I adore William. He’s my brother, and we’ve been through so much together – a truly shared experience. However, we’re simply at different stages of life now, heading in different directions.

When asked about his relationship with Oprah, he said they are currently taking space from each other, but he’s hopeful that time will help them heal.

He presented his current situation as a positive change, explaining that he hadn’t understood how restricted he’d felt before meeting Meghan. He believes his father and brother are still stuck in that same difficult position, saying, “They don’t have the option to move on,” and expressing sympathy for their situation.

During their interview with Oprah, Harry and Meghan revealed a conversation they had with a royal family member (though not the Queen or Prince Philip, Oprah later specified) about concerns regarding how dark the skin of their first child might be.

Following the interview, the palace issued a statement on March 9th expressing sadness about the difficulties Harry and Meghan have faced in recent years. They acknowledged the seriousness of the issues raised, especially those involving race, and stated that while memories of events may differ, the concerns will be addressed privately within the family. The statement confirmed that Harry, Meghan, and Archie remain much-loved members of the family.

While visiting a school in London with Kate on March 11th, William was asked about the interview with Harry. He confirmed he hadn’t spoken to Harry yet, but plans to.

When a reporter directly asked Prince William if the royal family was racist, he firmly denied it, stating, “We are very much not a racist family.”

At Prince Philip’s funeral on April 17, 2021, Harry and William appeared similar to how they used to. Harry traveled back to the U.K. for the event – his first trip since stepping down as a senior royal – while his wife, Meghan, who was seven months pregnant, remained in California.

As Harry explained in the beginning of his book, *Spare*, he truly understood his father and brother didn’t understand him after his grandfather’s funeral. He’d hoped the event would allow them to finally talk openly and resolve their differences, but it became clear they simply didn’t see things the same way.

I’d promised myself I wouldn’t let this conversation turn into another fight, Harry wrote. But it soon became clear that it wasn’t just up to me. My father and Willy were determined to argue, and they both seemed prepared for it. Willy, especially, wasn’t willing to listen. After he repeatedly dismissed what I said, we started exchanging the same old accusations – things we’d been saying for months, even years.

Harry remembered that Charles finally stepped in, begging them, “Please, don’t make the rest of my life miserable.”

William pointed out to Harry that he was the one who had chosen to leave. Harry responded by saying William understood the reasons behind his departure, but William denied knowing why.

On July 1, 2021, Princes Harry and William reunited at Kensington Palace to unveil a statue honoring their mother, Princess Diana, on what would have been her 60th birthday. The statue was placed in the Sunken Garden.

When Oprah asked Harry how his mother, Diana, would feel about his choice to step down as a senior royal, he responded that she’d likely be both upset and heartbroken by how things turned out. However, he believes her biggest wish would be for him and his family to be happy.

Meghan and Harry were visiting the U.K. when Queen Elizabeth II’s health unexpectedly declined, and she passed away on September 8, 2022.

In his memoir, *Spare*, Prince Harry recounts receiving a call from his father, King Charles, informing him that Queen Elizabeth’s health was failing and he needed to travel to Balmoral in Scotland immediately-and by himself. Harry explained that Charles wanted to keep the gathering small, stating that no other spouses were invited, so Meghan shouldn’t come either, as Kate wasn’t attending.

Harry found the Queen had already left when he got to Balmoral. He had lunch with most of his family, but his father and brother weren’t there to meet him.

Harry and Meghan reunited with William and Kate at Windsor Castle to greet people paying their respects, marking the first time they’ve been seen together in public since March 2020.

Beyond the news that the royal family was upset about Harry’s book, *Spare*, the palace itself didn’t release any official statement about it.

Harry repeatedly explained that he wasn’t trying to damage his family relationships, but instead wanted to openly address past issues and finally help them understand the struggles he’d faced for years. He emphasized that his emotional pain and unresolved trauma dated back long before he met Meghan.

In an interview with ITV’s Tom Bradby on January 8th, he explained he didn’t understand how being honest could damage relationships. He believes that staying quiet only allows someone who is abusive to continue their behavior, and that silence never improves a situation.

He said he wants to move forward, but not without some resolution. While he’s come to terms with many things that have happened, he’s not willing to simply forgive and forget. He wants someone to take responsibility for their actions.

Harry realized he longed for forgiveness and the ability to forgive others. “I wish things could be like they used to be with my father,” he said. “And with my brother, too. Right now, we’ve grown so distant that we barely know each other anymore.”

He emphasized his deep love for his family, stating that everything he’s done, both in this book and in life, was never meant to cause them any pain or harm.

Talking to The Telegraph after Spare came out, Harry said that he actually held back in his meaty memoir.

He explained in an interview on January 13th that there are private matters, particularly involving his brother and father, that he prefers to keep confidential. He fears these family members would never be able to forgive him if they knew about them.

Harry explained that the first version of the manuscript was a massive 800 pages long, but they were able to cut it down to a more manageable 416 pages. He added that it easily could have been published as two separate books, and the biggest challenge was deciding what to remove.

2025-09-15 10:20

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