'William has to be on board': Why the feud with Harry can't be solved by the King alone

The Prince of Wales must be on board for any meaningful reconciliation to happen between the King and Prince Harry, it has been claimed.

The feud between the the Duke of Sussex and his royal relatives has been ongoing since 2020, when he and Meghan stepped back from their duties as senior working royals to pursue a life of financial freedom in the United States.

And it's not likely to be repaired anytime soon, without Prince William's involvement.

READ MORE:. Princess of Wales to host Christmas carols concert, palace confirms

"Whatever the king does needs to be done in tandem with both brothers, not just one," historian and broadcaster Robert Hardman told the Daily Beast.

"He can't have unilateral discussions if William isn't in agreement."

READ MORE: Queen Letizia's subtle tribute to flood-ravaged victims after mud attack

Hardman has written a new and updated edition of his biography, Charles III: New King, New Court.

He believes William is central to meaningful change in the relationship, particularly because of the Prince of Wales' role as heir to the throne.

"Whatever reconciliation or bridge-building happens, it needs to be a three-way process. People keep asking about the king's feelings, but William also has to be on board, which adds complexity," Hardman said.

"It's tricky, and a situation nobody wants. But whatever the way forward is, it has to work for everybody."

Prince Harry was last in the UK on September 30 for the WellChild Awards but did not see his father or brother.

The King and Harry are last believed to have met, face to face, in February, when the duke made a brief return to London when King Charles announced he had been diagnosed with cancer.

The pair spent around 40 minutes together inside Clarence House.

READ MORE: Fergie reveals new project ahead of new grandchild's birth

Harry returned to the UK again in late August for the funeral of his uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes. Prince William was also at the service but the brothers did not speak, according to witnesses.

Hardman said William remains hurt over his brother's breaches of trust since leaving the UK four years ago.

View gallery

All the defining photos of the British royal family in 2024

"While we don't see the full picture, we know they're both very private," he said.

"Some might wonder why Harry wrote a book [his memoir, Spare] if he values privacy, but there's still much they keep private.

"This is why William was upset by the book – not because of specific depictions, but because of the breach of trust.

"Things that happened between the siblings were made public, which is a huge deal for someone who values privacy like William."

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.