Relations between Princes William and Harry appear to be at an all-time low, with the brothers no longer on speaking terms. But it seems there is one person who could bring them back together – their late mother, Princess Diana.
Aside from the funeral of their grandmother Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, the last time William, 42, and Harry, 40, were seen together in public was at the unveiling of a statue of their mum in Kensington Palace in July 2021, on what would have been her 60th birthday. Now, an insider tells heat there are plans for a major memorial to mark the 30th anniversary of Diana’s death, and her family hope this could help the siblings bury the hatchet.
‘The Spencers are close with both William and Harry and their families, but they know bringing the two together – even for something as important as remembering their mother – could be almost impossible. However, there is still hope.’
The commemoration for Diana – who died aged 36 in a car accident in Paris in 1997 – is set to take place at a time when Harry and his wife Meghan Markle will be visiting the UK, as they are expected to attend the Invictus Games in Birmingham. ‘The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will likely be in the UK in summer 2027. They’re lined up to appear at the Invictus opening ceremony in July, and will want to show willingness to work with the royals,’ the insider says. ‘While that’s still two years away, plans are already underway as there’s so much to pin down logistically for such an appearance. They will be heading over from the United States with the children, despite their current fears over safety. Their security team will be ramped up for the visit.’
Security remains a major concern for the Sussexes, who live in California with their children, Archie, six, and Lilibet, three. Earlier this month, Harry lost his legal battle at the Court of Appeal over his right to taxpayer-funded police protection while in the UK, later saying in a bombshell BBC interview that his father King Charles ‘won’t speak’ to him because of his decision to go to court. And although it seems like that would be the perfect time for Harry and Meghan, 43, to finally reunite with William and his wife Kate Middleton for Diana’s remembrance, we’re told that it’s 50/50 whether they will. This is due to the deep fractures in their relationship, which has become increasingly fraught since the Sussexes stepped down as senior members of the royal family in 2020.
Our source says, ‘Both brothers idolised their mother, but right now, it seems unlikely that they will want to be in the same place. And getting Kate and Meghan together for something other than a funeral is pretty much impossible. On top of all that, everyone is also mindful that if such a meeting did take place, it shouldn’t overshadow them remembering Princess Diana.’
Attempts for the Sussexes to make amends with the royal family have been few and far between, with heat recently reporting that Harry’s BBC interview may have put an end to any hopes of a reunion. Harry admitted that he would ‘love reconciliation with my family’, adding of Charles – who was diagnosed with cancer last February – ‘Life is precious. I don’t know how much longer my father has.’
And while we’ve previously reported that Kate, 43, has been pushing for a reconciliation between William and Harry, it’s thought other senior royals feel ‘too much damage’ has been done by the Sussexes following their bombshell claims in their interview with Oprah Winfrey, as well as Harry’s controversial memoir Spare. Our source adds, ‘Olive branches have been extended at points, but now there’s a feeling that far too much has been said and done to come back from. It’s now about trying to move on with a stiff upper lip.’
Last March, William and Harry celebrated their mother’s legacy separately by speaking with winners of the Diana Award as part of the charity’s 25th anniversary celebrations. William attended the event – held at London’s Science Museum – in person to make a speech and present the winners with their awards, while Harry held a video call from his home with the winners once his brother had left.
Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell previously claimed that William and Harry’s mother would be ‘devastated’ by the rift between her sons, while royal expert Jennie Bond said last year, ‘I think Diana would have supported Harry in his move, although I think she would have also found a way to bridge the rift between the brothers.’ But our source says only time will tell if the 30th anniversary of her tragic death can finally reunite them.
‘It would be a rare opportunity for William and Harry to come together in remembrance of the mother who tried so hard to keep them close,’ we’re told. ‘Everyone is still hoping that Diana could be the key to bringing them back together, even though she is no longer with us.’
