Prince William has absolutely no interest in speaking to Harry again until he apologises for his high-profile attacks on the royal family, an expert has claimed after they avoided each other on his whistlestop visit to see cancer-stricken King Charles.
The Duke of Sussex, 39, flew more than 5,000 miles from his home in California to London for what ended up being a 45-minute meeting with his father. The Prince’s transatlantic dash had raised hopes his return to Britain would be used to heal wounds with Charles and a chance to reach out to his brother Prince William, 41, amid their on-going feud.
But he jetted back to his Montecito home after just one day in the UK – after it is believed he spent the night in a luxury hotel rather than a royal residence. He did not see his brother at all during the visit, but an insider later claimed that the Prince would have ‘gladly accepted’ a reunion with his brother. ‘William would be upset that Harry yet again has chosen to make this visit to see his father a PR opportunity,’ Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, told The Sun.
‘As far as William is concerned he has absolutely no interest in speaking to Harry until Harry behaves like a gentleman and apologises for the years of rudeness and slurs he has aimed at William and the Princess of Wales.
‘William must be privately furious thinking over all the years how he supported Harry and at this one moment in his life when his 75-year-old father and wife of 13 years are both potentially seriously unwell, all Harry can think about is Harry and using it as an opportunity to announce his arrival and expect to see William.’
The royal expert claimed Harry’s immediate visit showed his ‘impulsive’ nature was still key – and him rushing to the UK ‘stirs things up’ for William. The Duke is now expected to join Meghan in Canada next week for an event to commemorate a year until the Invictus Games in Vancouver and Whistler.
It’s believed the Prince of Wales is remaining focused on tending to his wife Kate, who is recovering from her abdominal surgery and is taking extended leave from public duties until after Easter. Meanwhile Harry has barely spoken with his father since the death of Queen Elizabeth and it is reported there was no contact when he celebrated his 39th birthday.
Those close to Harry said he would welcome the chance to meet with his brother, with an insider adding: ‘The Duke’s primary reason to travel to the UK is to visit his father. If the opportunity were to arise to see the Prince of Wales then the Duke would have gladly accepted it.’
Palace sources have said there were no plans for a meeting between Harry and William while the Duke of Sussex is in London. While waiting for the duke to return home, Meghan was pictured flashing a smile yesterday as she drove around near the couple’s California home.
Harry and Meghan walked away from royal duties in 2020 and now live in California. Royal expert Jennie Bond told MailOnline that Prince Harry’s visit to the UK shows how deep the royal rift has actually become.
She claimed: ‘William has shown today that he has disowned Harry, he doesn’t want to know him, and he probably doesn’t even like him anymore. Harry is just not part of his life.