The two princes who walked side by side behind their mother’s coffin in 1997 are now estranged, with a family rift that even their father’s cancer diagnosis has failed to heal.

Prince William (44) and Prince Harry (41) were once inseparable siblings, united in grief after Princess Diana’s death. Nearly 30 years later, they are no longer on speaking terms.

As Harry prepares to return to the UK in the coming weeks with his wife Meghan and their two young children, speculation is mounting about whether the brothers can repair their fractured relationship.

The last time they were seen together was in September 2022 at the funeral of their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

King’s illness fails to bridge divide

Even King Charles III’s announcement in February 2024 that he was receiving treatment for cancer did not bring the brothers together.

With William based in the UK and Harry living in California, the distance between them has continued to grow.

In an emotional BBC interview in February 2025, Harry said he missed the UK and wanted to reconcile with his family.

He and Meghan met privately with Charles and Queen Camilla in July, along with their children Archie (7) and Lilibet (5). It was the first time the children had seen their grandfather since 2022.

Harry acknowledged that his 2023 autobiography “Spare” and a television interview with Oprah Winfrey had damaged family relations.

“Of course some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book,” he told the BBC. “I would love for reconciliation.”

Deep wounds remain

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told AFP he believed William would be unhappy about the news of Harry’s return.

“I think William would be adamantly opposed to this. Because there is a very deep rift,” he said. “He feels Harry has betrayed him. He’s made that clear.”

In 1997, the nation watched as the two boys, then aged 15 and 12, walked behind Diana’s coffin through the streets of London.

William was portrayed as the charming heir to the throne, while Harry was seen as the wayward but loveable younger brother.

When William met his future wife Kate Middleton at university, Harry described her as “the sister I’ve never had and always wanted”.

But when Harry introduced his girlfriend Meghan Markle to William in 2016, the reaction was cold, according to Harry’s account in “Spare”.

William had advised him not to rush the relationship with the divorced American former television actress who was three years his senior.

Breaking point

After Harry and Meghan married in 2018, the two couples were initially described in the press as the “Fab Four”.

But Harry accused William of not doing enough to help Meghan adapt to royal life.

In late 2019, Harry admitted in a television interview that he and his brother were on “different paths”.

By early 2020, Harry and Meghan had quit royal life and moved to the United States.

Their interview with Winfrey in March 2021 included accusations of racism against the royal family, as well as criticism that William only chose Kate because she fitted the mould of a royal wife.

In “Spare”, Harry portrayed his brother as prone to anger and claimed William had once knocked him to the ground during an argument about Meghan.

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“I was the shadow, the support,” he wrote. “I was brought into the world in case something happened to Willy.”

Harry described William as his “beloved brother” but also his “arch-nemesis”.

Royal historian Ed Owens said it was in the interest of both Charles and William to reconcile with Harry.

Once William becomes king and head of the Church of England, it will be his Christian duty “to forgive his brother”, Owens said.

“I expect it will take some time,” he added. “He will look benevolent. He will look like he is exercising magnanimity.”

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