Prince William Won’t Forgive Prince Harry Despite Show Of Unity During Queen Elizabeth’s Death?

According to royal expert Katie Nicholl, there doesn't seem to be any scope for brothers Prince William and Prince Harry to reconcile.

Nicholl, who penned “The New Royals — Queen Elizabeth’s Legacy and the Future of the Crown,” said on TV’s “Dan Wootton Tonight” Thursday that William “simply can’t forgive” his younger brother for opting out of royal life. The author added that the heir to the British throne always thought "Harry would be his wingman, now he’s doing it on his own. Thank goodness he’s got Kate (Middleton) by his side."

The brothers' once-close bond started to fray even before Harry married former "Suits" star Meghan Markle, reported Page Six. In September 2017, Harry had hinted that he was about to propose to the actress. Then William reportedly asked him why he was rushing things, so it caused Harry to angrily answer, “Who the hell do you think you are?”

Harry and Meghan quit royal life in January 2020 and moved to California. When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex sat down for a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, Harry's bond with the royals hit a new low. During the interview, he said that he felt sorry for his father and brother. According to Harry, his dad and brother were trapped in their royal roles and couldn’t leave as he had.

But royal watchers were hopeful that the brothers’ relationship could be mended after their grandmother Queen Elizabeth's death on Sept. 8. After the Queen’s passing, the estranged brothers and their wives came out from a car to greet crowds gathered outside Windsor Castle. The two couples spent 40 minutes viewing several floral tributes that were laid outside the castle. They also chatted with well-wishers.

Grant Harrold, a former butler to King Charles III, told Insider that he doesn't believe William and Harry's joint appearance following the Queen’s death would have been a PR stunt. He said that things don't just happen, and they are always planned, but "I don't think this was intentionally planned."

The former butler said that the brothers already previously showed that they were "a united family" when they had a walkabout with their wives at Windsor Castle. He noted that it could be short-lived, but the "Queen's death brought them together."