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After years of estrangement, it doesn’t appear that Prince Harry and Prince William‘s relationship will be mended anytime soon. A source claims that the next time they see each other, it could very well be after the death of their father, King Charles.

Prince Harry and Prince William may not face off until King Charles dies

In an interview with The Daily Beast, a source close to Prince William confirmed rumors about Prince William’s coronation. William reportedly has no plans to invite his only brother to this titular moment.

“Why would William and Kate want all the distraction and circus that his presence would bring? I suspect that William will see Harry one more time in his life in the flesh — at their father’s funeral,” the source claims.

“It is hard to overstate how utterly William feels betrayed and hurt on a very personal level. The two brothers were so close growing up that they would finish each other’s sentences,” the friend continued. “Amid all the trauma of their mum dying and their dad being quite distant, it was an amazing thing to witness.

A former Buckingham Palace staffer agreed with the insider. “Planning for William’s coronation is well underway, and as I understand it, there are no plans to invite Harry. It’s hardly surprising when you look at how poisoned the well has become.”

Wouldn’t it cause further strife to exclude Harry and his family from William’s coronation?

Prince William and Prince Harry photographed at Queen Elizabeth's funeral
Prince William and Prince Harry photographed at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral | Karwai Tang/WireImage

Although Prince William and Prince Harry likely have many obstacles to overcome in their relationship, cutting his younger sibling out of his coronation celebration would reflect poorly on William. As a senior royal who toes the company line, it would seem uncharacteristic for him to do so.

However, by the time William begins his reign, many old-guard senior royals won’t have the power to control the day’s events. Therefore, William could shift the House of Windsor’s gears into the future, and that future could exclude Harry entirely.

This move would leave Harry with no intimate connection to the royal family. Although he remains friendly with cousins Princess Eugenie and Beatrice and appears to have a cordial relationship with Princess Anne, there could be a time when these royals fear retribution from William if they continue to maintain a relationship with Harry.

As the new monarch, would the United Kingdom’s subjects allow William to eliminate Harry from the royal family? With the memory of Princess Diana’s wishes for her son looming overhead, could William even get away with that type of behavior?

A former royal butler believes the ship has sailed between Harry and William

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Former royal butler Grant Harrold believes that too much time has passed for a reunion between brothers to happen. He told The New York Post in June 2024 there may be no way back for Princess Diana and King Charles’ sons.

“I’ve always thought Harry would have wanted to reach out to his family. Whether it’s too late for that, I don’t know,” he claimed.

On behalf of Spin Genie, Harrold continued, “Maybe there’s too much water under the bridge now. A lot of time has passed, and trust has been broken. Can that be repaired? Time will tell.”

Prince William will not be able to ascend to the throne until his father, King Charles, dies. Queen Elizabeth’s son became king in September 2022.