Prince William may be ready to take the first step toward reconciling with his brother, Prince Harry — but only under tightly controlled circumstances, according to a source close to the royal family. Speaking to Heat Magazine, the insider said the Prince of Wales is not entirely opposed to the idea of mending ties, especially as the holiday season approaches.
“William is not totally closed off to the idea of making peace with Harry,” the source explained. “He knows how much it would mean to his father, King Charles, and Kate [Middleton], especially with Christmas fast approaching.”
While William reportedly recognizes the value of reconciliation, the insider said he feels unfairly criticized for being cold or unfeeling toward his younger brother. “William finds it very offensive when people accuse him of having a heartless or stubborn attitude towards his brother,” the source added. “He’s aware that ultimately every family needs peace and that it does nobody any good at all to be holding onto resentment.”
However, any potential meeting between the estranged brothers would come with strict conditions. “There’s no way he’s willing to pick up the phone and do this casually,” the insider revealed. “It would need to be a supervised discussion and handled with total discretion.”
The report follows a recent public moment in which William appeared to acknowledge his brother during an episode of The Reluctant Traveller with Eugene Levy. In the show, the prince spoke about the world he hopes to build for his son, Prince George, while reflecting on the challenges he and Harry experienced during their own childhood.
“I hope we don’t go back to some of the practices in the past that Harry and I had to grow up in,” William said. “And I’ll do everything I can to make sure we don’t regress in that situation.” Royal watchers interpreted the comment as a rare and subtle reference to his estranged brother, suggesting that William may be more open to repairing their strained bond than he has been in recent years.
The brothers’ relationship has remained tense since Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and relocated to California. The release of Harry’s memoir Spare and his Netflix documentary series deepened the rift, leaving little contact between the pair.
Still, those close to the royal household believe that King Charles and Princess Kate are quietly encouraging the brothers to reconcile, at least in part, for the sake of the monarchy’s image and family unity during the festive season.