The Palace Is Scrambling to Broker Peace Between Brothers Prince William and Prince Harry Before the Coronation
If the Sussexes do attend, their role will be strictly controlled, a royal expert says.
The Palace is scrambling to come up with solutions to ease tensions between brothers Prince William and Prince Harry ahead of the Coronation, and pressure is mounting with the event just under three months away, Us Weekly reports.
“The longer the feud continues, the less likely there’ll be a reconciliation,” an insider tells the outlet. “With the Coronation just a few months away, appropriate actions need to be taken immediately.”
The Palace is currently trying to figure out whether it’s possible at all for William and Harry to repair their relationship before the ceremony, which will take place May 6 at Westminster Abbey in London.
“The Palace is trying to come up with solutions to keep the peace and form some kind of reconnection and unity between William and Harry,” the source says. “It’s now or never. The Coronation is a time to celebrate, and no one wants this dark cloud hanging over the festivities on such a significant occasion.”
William, the source says, “feels that Harry is all smoke and mirrors and is not to be trusted,” adding that Harry’s memoir, Spare, was “a massive breach of trust” because of the “leaking” of certain stories (of which there are many aimed directly at William, who one could argue gets the lion’s share of the criticism in the tell-all).
“He’s trying to move on with his life,” the insider says of William.
If Harry and wife Meghan Markle do opt to attend the Coronation—as of yet, they are reportedly undecided—The Daily Express reports that they will be strictly controlled due to a lack of trust across the board. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams tells the outlet that The Firm “can’t trust the Sussexes for a moment,” and the couple also won’t have much of a role in the proceedings, much like during Her late Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations last June.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
“We do know they are going to be invited—that does seem to be so,” Fitzwilliams says. “As to whether or not they’ll come, the answer is probably yes, because, remember, they only get their work because they’re royals. As a result, they have to be seen to be involved in some form. I would think other members of the family will keep discussions with them to the weather. We know the background to this, and it is not a happy one.”
Fitzwilliams adds that “Exactly like at the Platinum Jubilee, their role will be strictly controlled, and they won’t have much of a role. The Palace know what they are dealing with and who they are dealing with—there’s no chance at all that they will overshadow the event.”
King Charles does want his younger son and daughter-in-law there, as unity is central to the Coronation, Fitzwilliams says.
“Unity at the time of the Coronation will be paramount,” he says. “The royals couldn’t hit back to the various allegations and so forth. It’s a matter of saying nothing and letting comments, however outrageous, pass.”
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.
-
5 Irresistible Valentine's Day Outfits Celebrities Wore First
Steal your Valentine's Day style cues from lover girls like Zendaya and Taylor Swift.
By Hanna Lustig Published
-
'Single's Inferno' Season 4 Is Here—Meet the K-Drama Actors, Reality Stars, and Models Looking for Love in Paradise
The Netflix Korean dating show is back for another round of red-hot drama.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
The NuFace Fix Microwand Erased My Fine Lines In Under Five Minutes
We put the latest launch to the test.
By Ariel Baker Published
-
Princess Kate Announces She's in Remission, Touches on How Prince William and Her Kids Were Impacted by Her Cancer
"Loved ones need support just as much."
By Kristin Contino Published
-
This Unexpected Royal is Richer Than The King
The top three people on this list might surprise you.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Why Royal Courtiers Allegedly Gave Prince Harry and Prince Andrew Unexpected 'Dukes of Hazzard' Nicknames
A royal expert claimed the nicknames—inspired by the famous TV show—relate to King Charles.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Why King Charles's Cousin Immediately Name-Dropped Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on 'The Traitors'
Lord Ivar Mountbatten quickly established his connection to the Sussexes, and discussed his status as the first openly gay British royal.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
These Royals Could Step Up to Help Prince William When He's King "If He Calls on Them"
Three members of the Royal Family are likely to pitch in with duties down the line.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
How Prince Harry Honored One Man's Unexpected Request While Helping California Wildfire Victims
The Duke of Sussex reportedly went incognito to find a special item for an elderly man affected by the disaster.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Kate Middleton Reportedly Acts as the “Glue” When Prince William and King Charles Don’t See Eye-to-Eye
"She is solution-focused and is certainly the glue between Prince William and King Charles III."
By Kayleigh Roberts Published
-
Meghan Markle Is Pushing the Premiere of Her Netflix Series Due to the Los Angeles Wildfires
Meghan requested that Netflix delay the release "as we focus on the needs of those impacted by the wildfires in my home state of California."
By Kayleigh Roberts Published