Why Meghan and Harry will never be forgiven by Kate and William: Expert

A royal expert has revealed why Prince William and Kate will never forgive Prince Harry, as the Duke of Sussex is under fire over his ‘war hero’ award.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will never be forgiven by Prince William and Princess Catherine as they have caused too much pain, a royal expert has revealed.

Charles Rae, former royal correspondent, appeared on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show to discuss the strained relationship between the royal brothers, particularly, whether the Sussexes or the Wales’s should make the first move to attempt a reconciliation.

Rae said: “Well, I think it is down to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to make the first move.

“Whether or not it would be accepted by William and Catherine, I doubt very much it would be.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex during Trooping The Colour on the Mall on June 9, 2018 in London, England. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

“After everything Harry and Meghan have done with the Oprah Winfrey interview, that Netflix show … [Harry’s book] Spare. The flamboyant curtsy by Meghan on the show as well.

“There’s too much gone under the bridge now.

“If they’re going to make the move, I am not so sure William and Catherine would respond favourably.

Rae added: “William’s got a lot more on his mind right now than repairing the troubles with his own brother. He’s got his wife to look after and his three children.

“If Harry was that keen on making some sort of move towards William … he didn’t wish him a happy 42nd birthday.

Princes William (L) and Harry during a photocall at RAF Shawbury near Shrewsbury, England in 2009. Picture: AFP

He added: “Any rift in any family is very, very sad. They’re doing it in the full glare of publicity and that’s obviously ten times worse than you falling out with your brother or sister.

“But Harry’s caused an awful lot of pain to various members of the Royal Family, his father, his brother, his sister-in-law.”

As for a mediator repairing the bond between the brothers, Mr Rae said: “I don’t think it’s ever going to happen and I suspect one of the driving forces in not making it happen is Meghan herself.”

It comes as the mother of an American hero veteran has hit out following news Prince Harry will receive an award honouring her dead son, who was killed by friendy fire in Afghanistan in 2004.

Prince Harry will be honoured with the Pat Tillman Award for Service for his Invictus Games work at the glittering ESPY Awards in Los Angeles on July 11.

Prince Harry during the Sovereign's Parade at Sandhurst Military Acadamy, in 2006. Picture: AFP

Soldier Pat Tillman. Picture: Supplied

The ESPY Awards (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly) is run by the sports TV network ESPN and the Pat Tillman Award has previously been given to unsung heroes.

But Tillman’s mother Mary said she was “shocked” why the award would be given to such a “controversial and divisive individual”, the Daily Mail reported.

She said: “There are recipients that are far more fitting. There are individuals working in the veteran community that are doing tremendous things to assist veterans.

“These individuals do not have the money, resources, connections or privilege that Prince Harry has. I feel that those types of individuals should be recognised.”

According to The Sun, a petition has been launched to try and prevent ESPN from awarding the Duke of Sussex, who is a veteran himself, with the award.

One signatory said: “Pat Tillman sacrificed his life for duty and country! Harry walked away from duty and country & spit on his commander in chief, country, duty & family on his way out.

“All for a Hollywood dream! I’m appalled as an American that you would give him this award. It now means nothing!”

Charles, former Prince of Wales, and Prince Harry in front of an Apache Helicopter in 2011. Picture: Richard Dawson/MoD via Getty Images

Prince Harry was offered the award “in honour of his tireless work in making a positive impact for the veteran community” via the Invictus Games, which he founded a decade ago to support injured and sick servicemen and women - both on active duty and veterans.

Retired military officer Colonel Richard Kemp told The Sun the award is just “celebrities massaging each other’s egos”.

“[Prince Harry] was a gunner in an Apache helicopter in Afghanistan but so were many, many other people.

“I can think of many people who did pretty extraordinary things while serving in the British and American armed forces which would be much more deserving of an award like this.”

Originally published as Why Meghan and Harry will never be forgiven by Kate and William: Expert