Prince William and Prince Harry’s Relationship Has Shifted Into a “Cold War,” and Harry’s U.K. Move Has “Magnified” the Strain

Rachel BurchfieldTue, September 15, 2026 at 6:07 PM UTC

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Prince William and Prince Harry on July 1, 2021.Credit: GettyThe Gist -

Prince William and Prince Harry’s relationship—which has been strained for years—has escalated to a “very, very cold war,” royal historian Amanda Foreman told People in a new interview.

Reconciliation doesn’t appear to be “happening anytime soon,” Queen Elizabeth’s former press secretary Ailsa Anderson said.

In fact, Harry and Meghan Markle’s recent move back to the U.K. has only “magnified” the rift between the brothers.

Prince William and Prince Harry’s rift has persisted for years—but it has gone from a “hot war” to a “very, very cold war,” royal historian Amanda Foreman told People for its new cover story.

The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex aren’t thought to have spoken to one another since the September 19, 2022 funeral of their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, almost exactly four years ago. Though they were in the same physical space at the 2024 funeral of their uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes, they did not interact.

Prince William and Prince Harry on September 19, 2022.Credit: Getty

Now that Harry, his wife Meghan Markle, and their children have moved back to the U.K.—arriving at the end of August—the potential for overlap between the brothers has substantially increased. Much closer geographically than they were when the Sussexes lived in Montecito, California, for six years, the move has “magnified” the feud all the more.

“When they were in California, and you gazed through the looking glass, you couldn’t see it so well, but it is right back in front of them,” a palace insider said of William and wife Kate Middleton.

Prince William and Kate Middleton at Royal Ascot on June 17, 2026.Credit: Getty Images

While Harry has expressed a desire to reconcile with his older brother, a close palace source told People that issues with Harry were “very hard on them, and I wouldn’t blame William for being cautious.” The royal family, a palace insider added, “still don’t know what [Harry and Meghan’s] motives are.”

While Harry may be interested in mending fences, as does King Charles, William seems less so. “William’s view is clear—any relationship his father has with Harry or the Sussexes as a family is entirely up to him,” royal biographer Russell Myers said. “But looking toward the future, he will have no relationship with them, in working or private capacity whatsoever.”

“William and Catherine can maintain that their focus has to be about them and their family, but there will be pressure on them about how they interact with Harry and Meghan and their family in the future,” Myers added.

Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Prince William, and Kate Middleton on July 10, 2018.Credit: Getty

Foreman said that the issue between William and his brother Harry “will be incredibly draining.” Of the Prince and Princess of Wales, she added, “They will always have to look over their shoulders and factor them in. And all they can do is deflect. Yet, they’ll get lots of jabs and questions: ‘When are you going to make up with your brother?’”

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William and Kate’s focus remains on their work and “shining a light on things that are important to them,” Queen Elizabeth’s former press secretary Ailsa Anderson said. “What they don’t want is all this other noise becoming a distraction.”

Their children also remain top priority, and William’s “overriding ambition is wanting his children to have as normal a life as possible when they are children,” a friend said. “He and [Kate] have been enormously successful with that.”

Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince William, Prince George, and Princess Kate on August 1, 2026.Credit: Getty

Yet, Anderson added, “It’s clearly incredibly difficult. The trust has broken down. Let’s hope it’s not broken completely, and there’s a chink in the armor on both sides and there could be some sort of reconciliation. But that’s not happening anytime soon.”

William and Kate are “still processing” Harry and Meghan’s move back to the U.K., a source told Us, adding that “their initial surprise has evolved, and they’re taking a wait-and-see approach.” Former royal butler Grant Harrold—who served Charles from 2004 to 2011—said that “William will be watching his brother very closely and trying to work out what his game plan is.”

“No one’s booking a table for two for William and Harry,” a source continued. “Everyone wants a reunion story, but it’s not something that’s in the cards.” The insider added, “If fences do get mended, it will be a slow and private process, and on William’s terms.”

Prince Harry and Prince William on May 18, 2018.Credit: Getty

Royal biographer Robert Jobson told Hello!, “I feel that William must be slightly aghast by the whole thing. The prodigal son coming back will be difficult for him. Harry’s move puts pressure on him to act in a more pragmatic way.”

“Are they really going to have William and Harry sitting ‘round a table with all that’s gone on?” Jobson added. To that—only time will tell.

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