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Since leaving his role as a senior royal, Prince Harry‘s estrangement from the royal family has widened. His once close relationship with Prince William, appears to have become irreparable. A new report calls the dissolution of trust between the brothers “dreadfully sad” as Harry reaches a milestone life moment.

Prince Harry faces 40 without the royal family to celebrate this milestone birthday

A new report by The Sunday Times reveals that Prince Harry’s rift with the royal family continues as he approaches his 40th birthday. The report claims that he has a “dreadfully sad” relationship with his brother, Prince William.

The editorial claims Prince William has no room for Harry and his current drama. William’s key focus has been on the health of his wife, Kate Middleton, their three children, and his work for the crown. William has taken on even more work since his father, King Charles’ and Kate Middleton were both diagnosed with cancer.

The Sunday Times reports that William is “unlikely to forgive Harry any time soon for his slights against Kate in Spare. Among them the suggestion she was cold toward Meghan. Those close to William say his brother rarely comes up in conversation.”

A friend tells The Times, “This year, his focus has very much been on his wife, his children, and his father. His brother isn’t really something that’s discussed.” A separate source close to both Harry and William says of their relationship, “They are estranged, which is dreadfully sad.”

Will there ever be a reconciliation between Prince Harry and Prince William?

Prince Harry and Prince William photographed in 2021
Prince Harry and Prince William photographed in 2021 | Dominic Lipinski/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The Sunday Times reports that Prince Harry and Prince William’s relationship may be irreparable. The brothers may never fully reconcile.

Therefore, their estrangement could go on for years. This decision could continue to leave Prince Harry out in the cold while the royal family evolves without him.

Since Queen Elizabeth’s death in September 2022, the royals appeared to have shifted to less traditional roles. Prince Harry was searching for this type of royal revolution when he and Meghan Markle wanted to carve out a “progressive new role” within the family in a 2020 Instagram post.

Instead, Harry and Meghan spent the better part of the first two years of their exile speaking poorly about the institution instead of being a remaining part of a family that appears to have shifted its priorities. Today, there is no going back to how things were between Harry, William, and other members of the House of Windsor.

The Sunday Times claims that William has made it clear that when he ascends to the United Kingdom’s king throne, he wants the experience to “look and feel different.” William’s friends shared their thoughts with the publication, saying that William has decided that he does not want Harry at his coronation, a major life decision that could put a period on their relationship thereafter.

How would Princess Diana have reacted to her sons’ estrangement?

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Princess Diana historically had issues with the royal family’s more traditional aspects. However, as the mother of the future king, she was allowed a little leeway when it came to opening up a new world to her sons that was traditionally not given to royal children.

She raised William and Harry to remain close to one another, as they were the monarchy’s future. Diana likely hoped her sons would continue the small steps she had taken to make the royal family more accessible to their subjects.

In fact, in an ITN interview when William was just three-years-old and Harry, one, Diana discussed the distinct differences between her sons. She already noted that they appeared to be their own individuals.

According to a royal expert, Princess Diana would have intervened between her sons and sorted out their issues. Jennie Bond told GB News, per The Mirror, “I think she’d be distraught that the boys are still feuding. But I think somehow she’d have got them together and just sorted it all out.”

Prince Harry turns 40 on Sept. 15, 2024.