Prince Harry, who once shared a close relationship with his sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, is now on the outs with her after his royal exit.
While Prince William reportedly remains deeply resentful, the Princess of Wales is said to have made efforts to heal the rift. According to a royal source, Kate reached out to Harry on his 40th birthday, hoping to encourage reconciliation within the royal family.
As reported by Marie Claire, an insider revealed, “She told William in no uncertain terms that this is not the time for resentment, they needed to show the world that love and family are front and center of their values, but more importantly she wanted Harry to have this message on his big day.” On the Duke’s big day last year on 15 September, the Prince and Princess of Wales took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, “Wishing a happy 40th birthday to The Duke of Sussex!” This was the first time the Waleses acknowledged Harry’s birthday publicly since 2021.
The same source explained that Kate “was very much the driving force behind Harry’s birthday wishes.” The gesture reportedly held great meaning for Harry. “It meant the world to Harry that the royals, as well as the Waleses, sent this olive branch on social media,” the source added.
While Kate found it within herself to extend forgiveness, William was said to be struggling with his lingering frustration. “She doesn’t believe it’s right to just give up on Harry. She’s worried for him because she sees all the signs of how homesick and vulnerable he is,” the insider said.
Jennie Bond, a Royal commentator, supported the notion that Kate played a key role in softening William’s stance. Speaking to The Mirror, she stated, “Perhaps she has persuaded William that life is too short for grudges. Birthday wishes posted on the main royal family website are also a sign of a possible thaw in relations between Harry and his father.
Though Bond acknowledged that a full reconciliation between the brothers may never come, she suggested that the gesture might mark the beginning of a subtle shift. “But this is only a tentative first step in a complex and sensitive situation. I still think the brothers’ relationship is almost irretrievable,” she concluded.
Harry also alluded to the complex relationship he has with his sister-in-law in his memoir, Spare. As reported by Hello! magazine, the Duke revealed that Middleton once made his wife Meghan Markle cry, and influenced him to wear the infamous Nazi costume. Royal expert Katie Nicoll notes that Harry’s cruel remarks about Middleton in Spare led to a complete breakdown of their relationship. She told The Sun, “She tried to get the brothers back on an even keel, and for Kate to be dragged into this mucky saga was upsetting for her and certainly did infuriate William.” The pair have not been spotted together in public since King Charles’ coronation on May 6, 2023.
