‘Working hard’: Inside family’s William, Harry reunion plot

Key figures close to the estranged royal brothers have been quietly attempting to mend their rift – and there’s a “glimmer of hope”.

IN LONDON

Princess Diana’s family are reportedly “working hard” to get Prince Harry and Prince William “to reconcile”, just days after the pair both attended their uncle’s funeral in their first joint outing in two years.

The Duke of Sussex made a low-key appearance at the memorial service for Robert Fellowes – the late husband of their mother’s sister, Lady Jane Fellowes – in the UK last week, despite earlier claims that he would avoid it over security concerns and the inevitable awkwardness with William.

The estranged brothers have not been in the same room as each other since the late Queen’s death in September 2022.

Harry’s decision to make the trip from his new home in California back to England in order to be part of the family occasion, and the fact that William did not opt out as a result, has “cast a glimmer of hope in an otherwise deeply depressing impasse”, friends of Diana’s family told the Daily Beast.

The Brothers both attended the funeral, providing a “glimmer of hope”. Picture: Dominic Lipinski/Pool/AFP

The Spencer insider added that they are “working hard to get the brothers to reconcile” and that it was probably “always going to be a funeral” that “brought the boys together under one roof”.

However, it’s understood the brothers did not speak at the event.

“They both adore Jane [Princess Diana’s elder sister, Lady Jane Fellowes, Robert’s widow], and it’s absolutely right that they were both there out of respect to her,” the source said.

“It’s an important recognition of the fact that blood is thicker than water. It’s a mature, promising sign that their private disagreements are not going be allowed to overshadow important family events.”

Harry is close with his mother’s brother, Charles Spencer.

He was seen chatting happily with his uncle at the Invictus Games’ 10th Anniversary Service at St Paul's Cathedral in May.

Another friend of the Spencers told The Daily Beast: “Behind the scenes, the Spencers have been working hard to get the brothers to reconcile. They understand William’s hurt at Harry’s betrayal, but they also understand Harry’s position because of the way Diana was treated by the Windsors.”

“ … Harry is still very close to his mother’s family. If anyone can mediate between the brothers it will be Jane.”

The Brothers’ proximity at the funeral may offer some hope of reconciliation, but it’s likely to be a long road, if it ever happens.

It’s understood Harry and Meghan Markle’s note to the Princess of Wales – addressed to “Kate”, rather than her preferred “Catherine” – following her cancer diagnosis earlier this year irritated William and ultimately went unanswered.

The four royals have not been in the same room for two years. Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage

It follows new claims that Harry is in talks with former aides in Britain as he plots a comeback in his home country.

Sources told the Mail on Sunday that Harry is seeking advice from people “from his old life” as a working royal as he works toward ending his “US exile” and attempting to “rehabilitate” his image.

According to The Mail, it could potentially see him “initiate a partial return to the royal fold”, “if certain members of the family could find it in themselves to allow it.

“Harry is turning away from all sorts of Hollywood publicists and is seeking counsel from his old friends and associates,” said the source.

“He is clearly reaching out thinking, ‘I need to do something different because what I’m doing is clearly not working.’ In short, he is rethinking the way he operates.”

The insider stressed that Harry, along with Meghan, “are not seeking a permanent return” to the UK.

Earlier this month, the UK Times reported that Harry was secretly frustrated by aspects of his life in California and is having trouble moving on from the past.

“He’s an angry boy. Things haven’t turned out how he wanted,” the insider claimed. “I think he misses being over here [in Britain] desperately and wants to be admired more. Anyone who knows him feels he’d rather be top of the pops here with everyone loving him, as they do with William and Kate.”