Prince William ‘Faces Major Decision’ Over Harry Reconciliation as Future Role Comes Into Focus
Prince William may be facing an increasingly difficult decision over whether to reconcile with his younger brother Prince Harry as the Duke of Sussex begins a new chapter in Britain with his family.
The Prince of Wales is expected to become King one day and, in that role, will also serve as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, placing his personal decisions under greater scrutiny as he prepares for his future responsibilities.
Harry’s reported return to the UK has therefore renewed questions about whether William can continue keeping his distance from his brother, particularly now that the two are expected to be geographically closer.
The prospect of a reunion between William and Harry has become one of the biggest talking points surrounding the Sussexes’ reported return, with many wondering whether their mother Princess Diana’s sons could eventually put their differences behind them.
Royal author Katie Nicholl has suggested that Harry’s presence back in Britain could make it increasingly difficult for William to maintain a firm position against reconciliation.
“In many ways, Harry’s really got William over a barrel,” Nicholl told Hello! Magazine, pointing to the fact that the brothers will now be living considerably closer to one another.
The royal author also noted that Harry has reportedly received a warmer welcome from his father, King Charles, which could make it more difficult for William to insist that reconciliation with his younger brother is completely off the table.
According to Nicholl, the combination of Harry’s physical proximity and his reported relationship with Charles could gradually increase pressure on William to reconsider his position.
The future King’s constitutional and religious responsibilities could also play a role in how he approaches the situation, particularly because of the importance placed on forgiveness within the Christian faith.
“As a future king and a Christian member of the royal family who will one day be head of the Church of England, I think there will be an expectation and some pressure on him to step up to the plate,” Nicholl said.
She suggested that William could eventually be expected to take the more conciliatory position between the brothers and demonstrate forgiveness, even if doing so would be personally difficult.
The royal author believes that William may ultimately have to become “the bigger of the brothers” and take steps toward repairing the relationship, particularly given the responsibilities that will accompany his future role as monarch.
The pressure could become even more significant if Harry and Meghan remain in Britain for an extended period, because continued proximity could create more natural opportunities for the brothers to cross paths.
Nicholl believes that Harry’s move back to Britain could therefore accelerate a reconciliation that many observers have long considered inevitable, even though there is currently no guarantee that the brothers are ready to repair their relationship.
“I think this move to Britain will accelerate that inevitable reconciliation which will have to come at some point,” Nicholl said.
For now, William and Harry remain estranged, but Harry’s reported return has changed the circumstances surrounding their feud. With the future King expected to carry enormous constitutional responsibilities one day, the question of whether he will eventually extend an olive branch to his younger brother could become increasingly difficult to avoid.
