‘PR stunt’: Royal expert says Prince William will never forgive Prince Harry

A royal expert has weighed in on the state of Prince William and Prince Harry’s relationship, revealing just how likely the pair are to reunite.

A royal expert has said that Prince William will never forgive his brother as the Duke of Sussex makes an attempt to reconcile with his family.

It comes amid speculation about the Duke of Sussex, 40, reconciling with his father after senior aides to Harry and the King were snapped meeting in London.

The secret peace summit has sparked rumour that a reconciliation between Harry and his father is in the works but Prince William’s aides were snubbed.

At least three representatives from either side were seen speaking at the Royal Over-Seas League which sits just three minutes from Clarence House.

It is unclear which side initiated the summit.

Relations between Princes Harry and Will are tense. Picture: AFP

It seems like a far off prospect after the damage done to their relationship. Picture: AFP

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A royal expert has now revealed that Harry and William coming to good terms again seems a far off prospect after the damage done to their relationship over the years.

Speaking about the meeting between Harry and his father’s aides royal expert Mr Hugo Vickers said he believed there’s “always a hope for reconciliation... if both sides are prepared to talk”.

“I don’t think it’s all gone too far,” he told The Sun.

“It’s always good to talk. Lots can come out of talking, and you know it could perhaps lead to something.

“We don’t know what they talked about or what their plans were. But that’s a good sign.”

However, there have been subsequent reports of Harry and Meghan’s alleged frustration that the meeting made headlines.

A representative denied their team leaked details of the chat.

The family feud began when Harry and Meghan stepped down as working royals in 2020. Picture: AFP

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But Mr Vickers believed it wasn’t by coincidence talks between Liam Maguire, Tobyn Andreae, and Meredith Maines were held on a visible balcony.

“We have to ask ourselves, did some random figure pass by and say, ‘oh, hello There’s Tobyn Andreae talking to the Sussex team - take a photograph and sell it to the newspapers’.

“That seems to me to be a bit far-fetched. I think it’s first of all very odd to have a meeting on a balcony if it’s meant to be private.

“And so, secondly, it looks to me as though somebody leaked it, and the obvious people to do that would be the Sussex team.

“Having done that, of course it’s also absolutely in keeping that they would then deny having done so.

“I don’t think it would be Buckingham Palace. I don’t see what possible gain they would have out of leaking it. I don’t think that they are particularly leakers where I’m afraid I think the Sussex team are.”

But if Harry and Meghan did want the press to get hold of these details, it brings to light questions surrounding motivation for the meeting in the first place.

“Well, they always want to stay in the news, because they are celebrities now,” said Mr Vicker.

“They have to come up with a good news story and let’s face it, If there’s a thought of reconciliation, then this is a good story, because the relations between Prince Harry and his father and his brother particularly, have been very bad, which is sad.

“We know that the King has stated. I mean even Prince Harry mentions that in his memoirs, that he didn’t want his last years to be made miserable between with rows with his son between his sons.”

Prince Harry has previously said he would like to reconcile with his father but that it lay in the King’s hands. Picture: AFP

Despite hopes of a reunion between the King and his son Mr Vickers warns a cheery reunion with Will is a far less likely possibility.

He said: “So as for William. It’s much more difficult because the barbs were sent in his direction from Prince Harry, but very much directed towards Catherine.

“That is very insulting, and I think William is likely to be more of an unforgiving person than his father.”

Mr Vickers added: “I think at the moment, if I was advising Prince Harry, I would say, get onto good terms with your father as soon as possible, and then that’s step one and step two, try to get on good terms with your brother.”

Harry previously revealed in a bombshell BBC interview that he had “forgiven” his family and reconciliation was now down to Charles.

A royal expert has warned the Prince William will never forget his brother. Picture: Getty Images

The feud between the Duke and his family started when he and Meghan announced on January 8, 2020, that they would be stepping down as “senior” members of the Royal Family.

Since then it was revealed that Harry has limited contact with his father the King along with a slew of other revelations about the family feud.

There was hope for reconciliation last year when Harry travelled to the UK to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of his Invictus Games.

However, the King and Harry failed to meet due to the Monarch’s “full program”.

The Duke was offered to spend his time at one of the royal apartments - however he turned it down in what was branded a snub to his father.

Princes William and Harry have not been in direct communication since 2023. Picture: Getty Images

Meanwhile, Princes William and Harry have not been in direct communication since the release of Harry’s controversial memoir, Spare, in January 2023.

Their last reported interaction was during the funeral of their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022, but conversations were said to be brief.

The feuding brothers reportedly did not speak to each other despite standing “virtually back to back” among mourners at their uncle’s memorial service last year.

The brothers have been at loggerheads since Harry and wife Meghan quit royal duty in 2020 for a new life in the US, where they have launched a succession of barbs at the Royal Family.

Growing up, Wills and Harry shared many of the same friends who were part of their close, tight-knit circle.

But their relationship took a sour turn after Harry lobbed vile allegations against the Prince of Wales in his memoir Spare.

Prince Harry previously claimed Will had physically attacked him. Picture: Getty Images

In the book, he claimed William had physically attacked him and knocked him to the floor in 2019 and made insulting comments about Meghan.

The Sussexes had also targeted Princess Kate, when Meghan claimed the royal made her cry.

The bitter feud was ignited with full force when the Sussexes told Oprah, in their 2021 sit down interview, that certain members of the Royal Family had speculated about Prince Archie’s skin colour.

However it was recently revealed that Harry had “given his blessing” for peace talks between his and his father’s senior aides to go ahead.

It sparked a slew of reconciliation rumours with aides discussing potential ways to end their family conflict, though a proposal for Harry to make a royal return was not on the agenda.

Despite the apparently hopeful move it was revealed that Prince William’s aides were not involved in the London meeting.

Harry has previously hinted at bad blood between him and his brother making reconciliation a distant prospect.

This article originally appeared in Page Six and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as ‘PR stunt’: Royal expert says Prince William will never forgive Prince Harry