Prince William is said to be “doubling down” on his estrangement from Prince Harry and is “more determined than ever to cut him off” after the Duke of Sussex reunited with King Charles.
Last week, Harry returned to the UK for a four-day visit, which included his first meeting with his father in 19 months.
The pair shared “a private tea” at Clarence House on Wednesday, Buckingham Palace later confirmed.
Their hour-long meeting sparked speculation about a possible reconciliation between father and son.
Although Harry described the reunion as “great” when pressed by reporters, William is said to feel even further from reconciliation.
“William is more determined than ever to cut Harry off altogether,” an insider claimed.
Frustration Over Harry’s Return
Harry’s busy UK schedule, which included charitable engagements and donations, was praised by some as showing “what a great loss he is to the Royal Family.”
But this apparent success has reportedly angered William, who views it as evidence that his brother has executed a “12-month master plan” to restore his image.
“William is back at the point where if you mention Prince Harry in his presence, he would throw you out of the room,” the insider told the Daily Mail.
They added: “He’s doubling down.”
The Prince of Wales is believed to be deeply unsettled by his brother’s return, reopening old wounds that had faded but never fully healed.
Years of Strain
Relations between Harry and the rest of the Royal Family have remained tense since he and Meghan Markle stepped down as working royals in 2020 and moved to the US.
In the years since, Harry has leveled serious allegations against the monarchy through interviews and his 2023 memoir, Spare.
According to one source, William endured the stages of grief over the fractured bond.
“When they first fell out, he went to Balmoral and went off his food. Just before the Oprah chat aired, he wept. Then came anger, and once that stage was over, he compartmentalised and moved on,” the source explained.
“William had reached the point where Harry was a ‘non-person,’ he had dropped so far beneath his radar that he had disappeared from his mind altogether. He never expected to be regularly in the same postcode as his brother again, like last week,” they added.
Palace Concerns Over William’s Reaction
Another insider suggested William’s anger had cooled to indifference, which had been healthier for his peace of mind.
“But now Harry is back—back in the UK, back at Clarence House, back in touch with his father and back in the subject line of emails,” the source said.
Palace aides are reportedly worried that William’s renewed hostility could ultimately prove damaging to him personally.