The ongoing rift between Prince William and Prince Harry appears to have deepened further, with royal insiders now claiming that the Prince of Wales “hates even hearing Harry’s name” and that the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, has stepped back from trying to mend the fractured relationship.
According to a report by Radar Online, Kate had quietly hoped to meet her brother-in-law during his brief visit to London in May, when Harry appeared in court challenging the British government’s refusal to provide him with state-funded security. However, those plans were quickly shelved due to high tensions within the royal household.
“The timing just wasn’t right. Tensions were running high, and William was firmly against it,” a royal insider told the outlet. The source added that the emotional toll the estrangement has taken on William has not gone unnoticed by Kate. “Kate gets upset seeing William so worked up about this. He hates even hearing Harry’s name now.”
Despite her longstanding role as a peacemaker between the two brothers, Kate has reportedly decided to step back. “She’s reminded him that carrying around all that anger isn’t good for him, but she’s done trying to be the one to fix things,” the insider continued. “She thinks it is far better to protect the happiness of her marriage and husband than try and do Harry a favor.”
Though Kate is said to have distanced herself from the ongoing feud, insiders claim her feelings toward Harry remain compassionate. “Kate still cares deeply for Harry and misses him, but she’s stepped back from trying to mend things,” the source explained. “She never speaks ill of him, yet she’s no longer urging any reconciliation either.”
The latest development underscores the growing emotional strain within the royal family since Harry and Meghan Markle’s departure from royal duties and subsequent public criticisms of the monarchy. While Harry has made occasional trips back to the U.K., any hope of a meaningful reunion with his brother appears increasingly unlikely.
“Harry has pushed things too far in William’s eyes,” the insider said. “Kate’s decided to focus on preserving her relationship with William and her own sense of calm.” Though reconciliation seems distant for now, the Princess of Wales reportedly still hopes for peace “in the long term” — even if she is no longer the one leading the charge to repair the royal rift.