Prince William has yet to give any public reaction to his brother, Prince Harry’s, return to the UK.
Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, returned to Britain with their children on August 26, beginning an extended stay after spending six years primarily based in California.
The brothers remain estranged, with William showing no public signs that Harry’s return has changed their relationship.
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Despite Harry and Meghan now being back in Britain with their children, William has yet to make any public comments about his brother’s return.
The continued silence comes as little surprise, as the heir apparent has largely avoided publicly discussing Harry since the Duke of Sussex stepped back from his senior royal role in 2020 and moved to the US with Meghan.
Their relationship has deteriorated considerably in the years since, particularly following a string of claims Harry made about the royal family.
One of the most explosive came in his memoir, Spare, in which Harry alleged that William knocked him to the ground during an argument in 2019. Reports surrounding Harry’s return suggest the brothers remain estranged, with no indication so far that William plans to publicly welcome him back.
William And Harry Were Last Reportedly In The Same Room In 2024
Although William and Harry have rarely crossed paths in recent years, their most recent reported joint appearance was in August 2024.
Both brothers discreetly attended the funeral of their uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes, at St Mary’s Church in Snettisham, Norfolk. However, their presence at the same service did little to suggest a thaw in their relationship. Reports at the time claimed they sat apart and were not seen speaking to one another.
Before that, the brothers were both present at their father, King Charles’ coronation in May 2023. Harry sat two rows behind William alongside his cousins, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, while William was seated with his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and their children.
The brothers were not publicly seen interacting at the coronation, and Harry left the UK shortly afterward.
Prince William Missed Harry’s July Reunion With King Charles
4Harry also returned to the UK in July, weeks before beginning his extended stay in Britain. During that visit, Harry, Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, spent time with King Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire.
The reunion marked the first time Charles had seen Archie and Lilibet in person since the late Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. William did not take part in the family gathering. The Prince of Wales was instead at the Royal Charity Polo Cup at Windsor Great Park around the time of Harry’s visit.
There was no publicly confirmed meeting between the estranged brothers during Harry’s trip. Now that Harry and his family have returned to Britain for an extended stay, the possibility of the brothers crossing paths again has attracted renewed attention.
Harry Has Publicly Called For Reconciliation With His Family
4Harry has previously made it clear that he would like to repair his fractured relationship with the royal family.
During a BBC interview in May 2025, the Duke of Sussex spoke about wanting reconciliation, particularly amid his father’s health issues.
“I would love reconciliation with my family; there’s no point in continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious,” Harry said at the time.
“If they don’t want that, that’s entirely up to them,” he added.
Harry’s return to Britain has now placed him geographically much closer to his family, but there has been no indication that his relationship with William has improved.
The Sussexes are also not returning as working royals and are expected to continue pursuing their own projects while spending an extended period in the UK.
Expert Believes Harry And William Could Benefit From Reconciliation
4While it remains unclear whether William and Harry will reconcile, one expert believes repairing their relationship could ultimately benefit the future king.
Catherine Mayer, author of Divide and Rule: Royal Women and Their Battles, has suggested that the Sussexes’ popularity among younger people could become particularly relevant for William when he eventually ascends to the throne.
“If William and Harry were different sorts of people, and they’re not, you might think it perfectly plausible that they would find a way to mend fences for the sake of the monarchy,” Mayer said. “But this is not that ideal world…and so who knows?”
For now, Harry’s return has brought the brothers closer geographically, but William’s continued public silence suggests there is still some distance to go before any royal reconciliation.
