Brothers at War — Again
Just when it seemed the royal feud might finally be cooling, Prince Harry is reportedly relishing the opportunity to wind up his elder brother Prince William — and has no intention of backing down over his plans to mark the 30th anniversary of their mother Princess Diana's death.
A source close to the Duke of Sussex has told Closer magazine that Harry is pressing ahead with a public tribute to Diana, despite reported reluctance from the Prince of Wales — and that William's discomfort may, if anything, be spurring Harry on.
"If anything, there's a big part of him that loves getting a rise out of William," the insider said. "Harry truly doesn't care about William's opinion."
Standing His Ground
The source painted a picture of two brothers locked in an increasingly entrenched standoff, with neither showing signs of a thaw. Harry's return to the United Kingdom — far from softening tensions — appears to have hardened them further, with William reportedly becoming "even more distant" in response.
"Harry is a very stubborn person, so the fact that Prince William clearly doesn't want him in England is only making him more determined to stay," the insider claimed, adding that the heir to the throne's coldness has pushed Harry to "stand his ground" more than ever.
The prognosis from those close to the situation is bleak. "Everyone is saying there's no chance his feud with William will ever be fixed," the source said.
The Diana Question
At the heart of the latest flare-up is the question of how — and by whom — Princess Diana's memory should be honoured as the 30th anniversary of her death approaches next year. William is said to be deeply uncomfortable with Harry's plans to stage his own tribute, with reports suggesting the Prince of Wales may have rejected approaches related to Diana documentary projects.
It is a deeply personal issue for both men, and one that cuts to the core of their fractured relationship. While King Charles is said to have moved towards reconciliation with his younger son, William appears unwilling to follow suit — at least for now.
"While King Charles seemed to have decided to bury the hatchet, the Prince of Wales might not want the same," the source said.
A Rift With Deep Roots
The brothers' relationship deteriorated sharply after Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from royal duties and relocated to the United States. A series of public broadsides followed — including a tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, a Netflix documentary series, and Harry's memoir Spare — each of which is said to have deepened the wound with William considerably.
With the Diana anniversary looming and Harry showing no sign of softening his stance, the prospect of a meaningful reconciliation between the brothers looks as distant as ever. Those around them, it seems, have largely given up hoping for one.
