Prince William Unlikely to Reconcile with Prince Harry Despite Renewed Appeal, Expert Says

Prince William is reportedly unwilling to reconcile with Prince Harry, despite Harry’s recent appeal for mending their strained relationship, according to royal experts.

Speaking to Fox News Digital on Friday, royal commentator Hilary Fordwich said the divide between the brothers has only deepened, especially following Harry’s latest BBC interview.

“Over time, the gap between Prince William and Harry has only grown — largely because of Harry’s repeated public criticism of the royal family,” Fordwich explained. “This latest interview is just the most recent example. William is now more determined than ever to protect the monarchy and views Harry’s commercial activities as damaging to its reputation.”

Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner echoed this view, saying reconciliation is highly unlikely.

“To put it bluntly — will William forgive Harry and Meghan and welcome them back? That’s a big fat royal no,” Turner said. “If the Sussexes are to return, King Charles would have to override his son’s firm stance once again. The real issue isn’t what Harry can do, but what could possibly shift William’s firm resolve.”

Turner pointed to Harry’s memoir Spare and the controversy surrounding his portrayal of royal family members as major sources of tension.

Fordwich also criticized Harry for what she described as his inconsistency.

“Harry has publicly expressed regret over the estrangement, but has taken no real action or responsibility for his own role in it,” she said. “Yes, life is precious — but he should have considered that before publicly attacking his father and the royal institution while airing deeply personal grievances.”

Her remarks follow Harry’s emotional BBC interview on Friday, which came just after he lost his legal appeal to reinstate personal security protection while in the U.K.

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Prince Harry Faces Setback as U.K. Court Rejects Security Appeal

Prince Harry has suffered a significant legal defeat after a U.K. court rejected his appeal to reinstate official security protection during visits to his home country. The ruling comes as tensions remain high between the Duke of Sussex and the royal family.

In an emotional interview from California with the BBC, Harry expressed a desire to reconcile with his family amid concerns over his father King Charles III’s health, following the monarch’s cancer diagnosis in February 2024.

"I would love a reconciliation with my family. There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious. I don’t know how much longer my father has," Harry said.

Harry, who lives in the U.S. with his wife Meghan Markle and their two children, suggested that the issue of security has contributed to the ongoing estrangement.

"The king won’t speak to me because of this security stuff," he admitted. "I never asked him to intervene. I asked him to step out of the way and let the experts do their jobs."

He added, "There’s a lot of power and control in my father’s hands. This could be resolved — not by his direct involvement, but by allowing the right people to handle it."

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Prince Harry Calls Court Defeat a "Stitch-Up," Says He Can't Return to U.K. with Family

Prince Harry has spoken out candidly following his legal loss in a bid to reinstate taxpayer-funded security during visits to the U.K., calling the court’s decision a “good old-fashioned establishment stitch-up.” He claimed the royal household played a role in influencing the outcome, deepening his sense of betrayal.

"I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point," Harry said in his BBC interview from California. "The things they're going to miss is, well, everything. I love my country. I always have — despite what some people in that country have done. I miss the U.K. I miss parts of it deeply. And I think it’s really quite sad that I won’t be able to show my children my homeland."

Critics have pointed out inconsistencies in the Sussexes' public messaging. Kinsey Schofield, host of the To Di For Daily podcast, noted a disconnect between Prince Harry’s emotional statements and Meghan Markle’s recent comments.

"From a PR standpoint, this is a nightmare for the Sussex brand," Schofield told Fox News Digital. "Harry says he’s living in fear and missing his family, while Meghan tells the Time100 Summit she’s never been happier. It's whiplash."

She also highlighted discrepancies in Harry’s legal arguments: "He told the court they stepped back from royal duties because of ineffective protection, and now he's fighting to restore that same security. Then in his BBC interview, he claimed they were actually pushed out. Their narratives don’t line up."

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams called Harry’s interview “extraordinary,” adding that the rift within the royal family appears beyond repair.

“He’s accusing the palace of sacrificing him and his family, and now he wants government intervention. At this point, the rift seems unbridgeable,” Fitzwilliams said.

Since stepping down as senior royals in 2020, citing media pressure and lack of institutional support, Harry and Meghan have publicly shared their grievances through interviews, documentaries, and Harry’s 2023 memoir Spare. As part of their departure, they lost official security protection.

“There have been so many disagreements,” Harry acknowledged. “Of course, some family members will never forgive me for writing a book — or for many other things. But I would love a reconciliation. Life should be about truth and reconciliation… It would be nice to have that reconciliation part now.”

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