After years of a rift between Prince Harry and Prince William, it looks as though the Duke of Sussex and his wife, Meghan Markle, are aiming for a royal reconciliation. However, one problem stands in their way. The pair, who are based in California, visited the UK last month and reunited with King Charles III and Queen Camilla. They brought both Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet along with them, marking the first time the King had seen the children in around four years.

Now, reports suggest that Harry is set to return to the UK more frequently in an effort to patch things up with his family. However, problems still stand in his way, and it is mainly due to his brother William and his sister-in-law, Princess Kate. A source close to Harry and Meghan has said that their efforts to get closer to the King have been successful, but that William and Kate are not going to make things easy.

“It’s becoming increasingly clear they don’t need William and Kate’s approval, which has really boosted Meghan’s confidence,” the insider told HeatWorld. “The fact that Charles is working so hard to put this rift in the past and lay the groundwork for their future – not just for Harry and Meghan, but for their children – is hugely satisfying.

“Both Meghan and Harry believe that both William and Kate went out of their way to make life as difficult as possible for them and tried to block a reconciliation at every turn. Ultimately, they failed, so Meghan and Harry feel vindicated.

“That being said, they would still very much like to have a better relationship with William and Kate, but even if that never happens, they believe they and their children now have a place within the family.”

The rift between Harry and William is said to have turned rather sour over the last few years. Most recently, William was reportedly furious over Meghan Markle’s Instagram post that showed Archie and Lilibet visiting Althorp Estate, Princess Diana’s family home and final resting place.

In Harry’s 2023 memoir Spare, the Prince accused William of physically attacking him in an argument over Meghan.

Meanwhile, royal expert Phil Dampier recently told the Daily Mail that William and Harry’s rift has only gotten worse in recent years.

“William and Harry put aside their differences for the unveiling of the statue of their mother, Princess Diana, five years ago, but things are much worse now,” he said. “I think William would find it very hard to meet Harry, even to honour Diana’s memory.

“Next year marks the 30th anniversary of her death, so that would be an obvious time for them to try and heal their rift and at least be seen together, but I don’t think William’s heart is in it.”