Prince Harry Should Not Expect an 'Overnight Reconciliation' With Prince William, Royal Expert Warns

Prince Harry should not expect an immediate reconciliation with Prince William after returning to Britain with his family, according to PR expert Lynn Carratt of E20 Communications, who said rebuilding trust between the brothers would likely require time and privacy.

Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, returned to the UK with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in late August after living primarily in California for several years. The family arrived in Britain on 26 August, according to multiple reports. Harry and Meghan stepped back as working members of the royal family in 2020 and later settled in Montecito, California.

Relations between Harry and William have been publicly strained for years. During Harry and Meghan's 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Harry said his father and brother were 'trapped' within the royal system and 'don't get to leave.' Harry has since spoken publicly about tensions within the royal family, including his relationship with William.

Prince Harry Reconciliation: Trust Remains Key, Carratt Says

Carratt said trust would be one of the most difficult issues for Harry and William to overcome if they were to rebuild their relationship.

'There has been an enormous amount of hurt between William and Harry, and trust is probably the biggest hurdle they would need to overcome,' Carratt said.

She advised Harry not to 'expect an overnight reconciliation,' arguing that any renewed relationship would need to develop gradually rather than through one meeting or public appearance.

Carratt also said she believed William would be especially protective of Catherine, Princess of Wales, and their three children. Her remarks were an assessment of William's possible priorities, not confirmation of his private views or of any discussions taking place between the brothers.

'William is also likely to be incredibly protective of Catherine and their children, particularly after everything the family has been through,' Carratt said.

She added that any relationship between the brothers would need to develop 'slowly and, crucially, privately.'

Carratt also addressed the suggestion that Catherine could act as a peacemaker. She said the Princess of Wales has often been portrayed as a possible bridge between Harry and William, but argued that responsibility for repairing the relationship should not fall on her.

'I don't think the responsibility for bringing William and Harry back together should fall on her,' Carratt said.

There has been no public confirmation that Harry and William are holding reconciliation talks. Carratt's comments therefore amount to her assessment of how a possible rapprochement could unfold rather than evidence that one is already under way.

Prince Harry Reconciliation: Carratt Raises Role of Royal Cousins

Carratt also suggested that the brothers' children could eventually provide a less formal route for renewed family contact.

Harry and Meghan are parents to Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five. William and Catherine are parents to Prince George, 13, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight.

'The children could inadvertently become a bridge between the two families,' Carratt said.

She suggested that if Archie and Lilibet spend more time in Britain, Harry could naturally want them to see George, Charlotte and Louis. Carratt added that complicated relationships between adults do not necessarily prevent children from getting to know their cousins.

Her comments were hypothetical. There has been no public confirmation of plans for the five cousins to meet as part of any reconciliation effort.

Carratt also speculated that a future photograph of the five children together could carry symbolic significance for the wider family.

'The first really significant photograph might not be the Fab Four at all,' she said, adding that an image of George, Charlotte, Louis, Archie and Lilibet together could send 'a very powerful message.'

No public statement from William has confirmed that reconciliation talks with Harry are under way.