Prince Harry may not attend his brother Prince William’s future coronation, with royal insiders claiming the relationship between the two has deteriorated beyond repair.
The Duke of Sussex, who hasn’t spoken to William in nearly two years, is unlikely to be invited to the ceremony at all, according to a royal insider. “I think it’s done … I don’t think there’s [any] coming back from that,” the source told Page Six, referencing Harry’s recent explosive BBC interview.
The once-close brothers have reportedly reached a new low in their ongoing feud, especially after Harry publicly accused their father, King Charles, of refusing to speak to him. “Before the interview, we thought, ‘Come on, William, extend a hand to your brother.’ But now it seems that Harry hasn’t learned s–t,” the insider added.
In contrast, sources close to Harry maintain he’s still open to reconciliation. “I would love reconciliation with my family,” Harry said during the BBC interview earlier this month. “There’s no point continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious.”
Still, royal expert and family friend Hugo Vickers told Page Six that while it’s “theoretically” expected for William to invite Harry to the coronation, it isn’t guaranteed.
“Quite frankly, he can do what he likes. It is not set in stone,” said Vickers. He cited historical precedent, noting the Duke of Windsor was excluded from Queen Elizabeth II’s 1953 coronation due to tensions within the royal family.
Amid rumors that William may strip Harry and
Meghan Markle of their HRH titles upon taking the throne, Vickers dismissed the likelihood. “We know that William is unforgiving anyway,” he said. “But … he won’t strip Harry and Meghan of their titles, it appears vindictive.”
Another palace source echoed that sentiment: “William won’t strip them of their titles because they are irrelevant and meaningless at this point. No one thinks [Harry and Meghan] are royal anyway!”
The couple, who stepped back from royal duties in 2020, have faced criticism from within the palace for continuing to speak publicly about the royal family. Many within the royal circle no longer trust Harry or Meghan.
Harry, 40, is said to be particularly bitter over his recent legal defeat in the UK’s Court of Appeal, where he challenged the British government’s decision to revoke his publicly funded security. Following the verdict, he told the BBC, “I can’t see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point.”
Claiming that King Charles “won’t speak to me because of this security stuff,” Harry acknowledged ongoing tensions and admitted that his controversial memoir 'Spare' further damaged family ties. He even commented on the uncertainty surrounding his father's health amid Charles's cancer battle, a statement that reportedly infuriated royal insiders.
Although Harry would be given security for major royal events, a source concluded bluntly, “He will get the same amount of security, but the royal family is not going to want him there.”