Prince William & Kate Middleton Reportedly Can't Agree On How To Handle Harry

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's big return to the U.K., in August 2026, has reportedly ruffled some royal feathers — Prince William's, to be precise. And as if his estranged younger brother's surprise homecoming wasn't enough, William had to deal with the release of "Swan Song: Diana, My Sister," his uncle, Charles Spencer's, bombshell book about their late mother, in September 2026 too. With whispers that Harry reportedly had a hand in helping Spencer write it, the future king is said to be ready to blow a gasket over the whole affair, with Princess Catherine desperately trying to keep him from doing or saying something he'll regret later. 

"William is seeing this alliance that Harry has formed with their uncle and it's got him incensed and calling both Harry and Earl Spencer traitors," a source dished to Woman's Day. "He's got no doubts that Harry read their uncle's book before it was published and he wants to tear into him over it." Meanwhile, his wife firmly believes this is not the right course of action. Royal experts have long claimed Catherine was the "peacemaker" in Harry and William's years-long feud. But following her 2024 cancer diagnosis, those same experts acknowledged she'd probably thrown in the towel. 

As royal biographer Christopher Andersen reasoned to Fox News in October 2024, "The idea that Kate somehow still has the time and energy to continue playing peacemaker is rubbish. She did try over a period of years and finally threw up her hands in disgust." It appears she's trying again now, with an insider explaining to Woman's Day, "Kate is begging William to follow his father's lead and keep the peace. She says they can't get caught up in this ugly mess, they need to stay focused on protecting the crown and remaining dignified representatives."

Prince Harry's relationship with Kate Middleton changed irrevocably after he met Meghan Markle, and the repercussions can clearly be seen in the present. But despite all the royal beef, sources revealed that the Princess of Wales remains somewhat sympathetic towards her brother-in-law, unlike Prince William, who reportedly still wants nothing to do with him. "Despite the deep divisions between the Sussexes and the Waleses, Kate cannot simply switch off her sympathy," a source shared with Closer Weekly. "She knows Harry has made mistakes and she hasn't forgotten everything that has happened. But she remembers the Harry she was once incredibly close to."

Catherine reportedly empathized with the Duke of Sussex after he had to change his children's school because of security concerns. "Whatever has happened between the adults, she doesn't want Archie and Lilibet paying the price," they added. William, meanwhile, is reportedly "fuming" over Harry and Meghan Markle's big U.K. return. In particular, the duke insinuating during a visit to Ukraine that he was still a working royal really rubbed the future king the wrong way. As a source told Radar Online, "William does not want the public confused about who officially represents the king. He believes there has to be an unmistakable dividing line."

As for finally making peace, Catherine would apparently be more open to that than her husband. The BBC's royal correspondent Peter Hunt disclosed to Express that the Prince of Wales was furious when news broke that Harry was returning to Britain, while his wife was nervous about what might go down between the feuding brothers. According to a source who spoke to People, however, they both agreed on one thing: There would be no "knee-jerk reaction" to the Sussexes' return.