Royal outcast Prince Harry has been open and eager to reconcile with his family for some time, and there was no way he was visiting the UK without at least attempting to fix the most broken relationship of all – the one with his brother, the Prince of Wales.
Despite Harry, 41, making only a fleeting visit to his homeland, palace insiders reveal a face-to-face meeting with William, 44, is top of his agenda after years of no contact and growing resentment between them.
“Harry has every intention of meeting with his brother – he knows William is the real blockade in repairing his relationship with the royals,” an insider tells Woman’s Day. “Harry wanted to be the ‘bigger guy’ and initiate peace talks about everything that’s gone down. He believes if they can get to a point of basic civility, it will open so many doors and make their father happy.”
The King’s wishes
Indeed, the King’s soft spot for his wayward youngest son could be Harry’s life raft amid countless reports that William isn’t willing to just forgive and forget. It’s been almost four years since the brothers exchanged barely a few words at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and insiders say that if Wills had it his way, that frosty silence would continue indefinitely.
“William has been resistant to any interaction with Harry for the simple fact that he doesn’t trust him,” explains our source. “There’s very little Harry can say that could make up for the insults and upsets he and Meghan have caused – not just to William, but to Kate too.”
However, with Charles, 77, now on board for a reunion with Harry during his whirlwind visit, Wills may have no choice but to fall in line. The monarch calling a rare family dinner with senior royals in Scotland just days before Harry landed in London only fuelled speculation that the pressure was on for a reconciliation.
“William feels torn as this is something his father wants,” reveals our insider. “Charles wouldn’t want to force it, but he has made it very clear to William that this is one of his final wishes. He expects the same level of grace and leadership from the future king that he’s showing when it comes to the situation with Harry.
“William knows he can’t say no to his father, so it’s likely he’d agree to a very brief meeting – 30 minutes max – with Harry, mostly out of respect for Charles.”
Queen Camilla’s concern
But apparently Wills isn’t the only one wary of Harry, with the Queen, 78, also “demanding” to be present at any planned meetings to make sure sentimental Charles acts with logic and not with his emotions.
“Camilla isn’t taking any chances,” another palace source spills. “Charles leads with his heart. Camilla worries that, left alone with Harry, he’ll give away the family store in the name of peace.”
We’re told the Windsors would be right in suspecting Harry has an ulterior motive for getting back into William’s good books. There have been persistent reports Wills plans to strip Harry, his wife Meghan, 44, and their two kids, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, of their royal titles once he ascends the throne – and no one is more aware of this threat than Harry.
Our insider warns, “The clock is ticking on William taking over and if Harry can’t make things right before that happens, it will be disastrous for Archie and Lilibet.”
Meghan’s UK return
The mystery around whether the Duchess of Sussex would follow her husband to the UK has had every royal watcher guessing, but Meghan didn’t let the speculation spoil a trip to Europe!
Joined by Harry and their kids, the former Suits star spent a sunny few days in Portugal, where they own a mansion in Melides. She also took the opportunity to promote new products for her lifestyle brand As Ever.
“All this buzz around her possible UK return conveniently created a groundswell of headlines while she’s launching a new honey,” says a source.
We’re told Meghan was “terrified” at the prospect of returning to the royal fold.
She’s particularly put off by a strict list of rules for her visit, including “no cameras, no Instagram posts” and no “commercial activity” – meaning no selling jam!
