Meghan Markle Will Likely Have a \201cLead Role\201d in Ending Prince William and Prince Harry’s Yearslong Feud, Expert Says

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published 6 March 2024

If peace is to be restored within the confines of the royal family—specifically in regards to the relationship between brothers Prince William and Prince Harry—OK reports that Meghan Markle will play a “lead role” in it. The Duchess of Sussex “could become a catalyst in ending their sibling rivalry,” the outlet reports, helping end a feud that has persisted for years and only escalated after the 2023 publication of Harry’s memoir, Spare, which largely takes aim at William.

Prince William and Prince Harry — Brothers William and Harry have been at odds for years

“Whether there is any truth in it or not, people are quick to blame Meghan for their [William and Harry’s] fractured relationship—making her into a sort of royal Yoko Ono figure,” public relations expert Luana Ribeira said, referring to the widow of John Lennon. “For Meghan, it would be a good move for her to take a leading role in helping bring these brothers back together so they can support their father [King Charles] together.”

Meghan Markle — An expert said Meghan could be a leader in the brothers' reconciliation

Some royal followers “were disappointed” in Harry and Meghan “after they continued to attend engagements despite King Charles’ recent cancer diagnosis,” OK writes.

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To this point, Ribeira added “I think the main thing the couple could do to turn public perception about them around is to build bridges with the royal family,” she said. “News of King Charles’ cancer diagnosis makes this the ideal time for both sides to draw a line under things which have been done and said in the past and mend relationships.”

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Though much water has gone under the bridge since William and Harry’s quarrel began over five years ago, “I think deep down a large part of the British public is rooting for Prince Harry and Prince William to rediscover the closeness they once had,” Ribeira said.

And if Meghan can be the one to broker that peace, especially in such a turbulent time for the family—by all means, let’s see it come to pass.

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Rachel Burchfield is a writer, editor, and podcaster whose primary interests are fashion and beauty, society and culture, and, most especially, the British Royal Family and other royal families around the world. She serves as Marie Claire’s Senior Celebrity and Royals Editor and has also contributed to publications like Allure, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, People, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and W, among others. Before taking on her current role with Marie Claire, Rachel served as its Weekend Editor and later Royals Editor. She is the cohost of Podcast Royal, a show that was named a top five royal podcast by The New York Times. A voracious reader and lover of books, Rachel also hosts I’d Rather Be Reading, which spotlights the best current nonfiction books hitting the market and interviews the authors of them. Rachel frequently appears as a media commentator, and she or her work has appeared on outlets like NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN, and more.