The Duke of Sussex returned to Britain this week with his wife Meghan Markle and their two children – and his older brother will be feeling “pressured”, says royal expert Katie Nicholl.
The author of The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth’s Legacy and the Future of the Crown said the “most problematic” relationship is between the Sussexes and the Waleses, particularly the two brothers, and it will become “very difficult” following their closer proximity to one another.
Katie tells HELLO!: “In many ways, Harry’s really got William over a barrel because it will be very difficult with them being geographically so much closer and Harry being welcomed back into the royal fold by his father, at least, for William to be adamant that there will be no reconciliation.”
Prince William and Prince Harry’s fractured relationship as brothers
The Princes, who were once known to be close, have had little to no contact for the past two years.
They were last in the same room together in 2024 for the funeral of their uncle, Lord Fellowes, but reportedly did not speak to one another.
They became estranged after Harry criticised him, Princess Kate, King Charles and Queen Camilla in a primetime Oprah interview, his Netflix documentary and in his autobiography Spare after stepping back from royal duties.
However, relations seem to be warming between Harry and King Charles, after they met in July when he visited Highgrove in Gloucestershire with his family.
Meanwhile, Katie says that the Waleses likely feel “blindsided” by Harry and Meghan’s unexpected decision to return to the UK.
William and Kate are yet to react publicly to the return. They left Balmoral Castle on Thursday, following a week’s stay with the King and Queen in Scotland.
Why Prince William will be feeling “pressured” by Harry’s return
Katie added that William will be feeling “some pressure” following Harry’s return from Montecito in the US, where he has lived for the past six years after stepping down as a senior working royal in 2020.
This is because Harry’s projects have been focused in America, but also because some will take the view that William’s role as future head of the church as King will demand it.
“There will be some pressure on William from perhaps the Archbishop or other church members,” says Katie.
© Photo: Getty Images“As a future king and a Christian member of the royal family who will one day be head of the Church of England, I think there will be an expectation and some pressure on him to step up to the plate and be the bigger of the brothers and to show forgiveness.
“I think this move to Britain will accelerate that inevitable reconciliation which will have to come at some point.”
Katie adds: “At the heart of this has been a massive breakdown in trust between the two brothers, and actually between the four of them (William, Harry, Kate and Meghan).
“The one thing we know about William is he is absolutely committed to the future of the monarchy, and therefore he is in quite an unenviable position, and his hand is really being forced on this.”
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