Prince Harry’s return to the United Kingdom could mean much more for the British royal family than simply a change of residence. The Duke of Sussex is reportedly moving back to the UK for an extended period with Duchess Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, who are expected to begin school there in September.
The move would bring Harry not only closer to his family geographically, but also closer to one of the most painful and long-running rifts within the royal family: his strained relationship with his brother, Prince William.
Prince Harry Is Moving Back With Meghan and the Children
According to People, the move is expected to begin later this month. For Harry and Meghan, it represents a major step after they stepped back from their roles as senior working royals in 2020 and established a new life in the United States.
Their relationship with the royal family became increasingly strained following their interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan, and Harry’s memoir Spare. Against that backdrop, their return to the UK could become a particularly significant moment for the family.
Prince William and Harry Are Still Estranged
While Harry’s relationship with his father, King Charles, is reportedly showing signs of improvement, his relationship with William remains far more difficult.
One source cited by People suggested that Harry’s return could create an opportunity for the brothers to reconnect. “It would never happen with him in America. This gives them opportunity to try and mend that bridge,” the source said.
Living closer to one another could naturally create more opportunities for contact, whether through planned meetings or chance encounters. However, there is no guarantee that proximity alone will resolve their differences.
Could Princess Kate Help Bridge the Divide?
Princess Catherine could potentially play a role in bringing the brothers closer together. According to the People source, Kate understands how important both family and Harry are to William and could help create an opening for reconciliation. “She would want to see that healed, as any wife would,” the source said.
For now, however, any reconciliation remains uncertain. Harry’s return simply creates more opportunities for the family to reconnect, with both sides likely to proceed carefully.
King Charles Hopes His Sons Can Reconcile
King Charles could also play an important role in this new chapter. The monarch was reportedly informed of Harry’s plans shortly before the move became public and is said to have reacted positively to the news.
There had already been a private reunion between Harry, Charles, Archie, and Lilibet in July, suggesting that contact between the Sussexes and the royal family has been gradually increasing.
Harry has also made clear that he would like to repair his relationship with his family.“I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point continuing to fight any more,” he said, according to the BBC.
With Harry and his family spending more time in the UK, the possibility of renewed contact with William and the wider royal family is greater than it has been in years. Whether that ultimately leads to genuine reconciliation, however, remains to be seen.
