Prince Harry, who once enjoyed a close bond with his sister-in-law Kate Middleton, now finds himself estranged from her following his departure from royal life.
While Prince William reportedly remains deeply resentful, the Princess of Wales is said to have made efforts to heal the rift. According to a royal source, Kate reached out to Harry on his 40th birthday, hoping to encourage reconciliation within the royal family.
As reported by Marie Claire, an insider shared, “She told William in no uncertain terms that this is not the time for resentment, they needed to show the world that love and family are front and center of their values, but more importantly she wanted Harry to have this message on his big day.”
On September 15 last year, the Prince and Princess of Wales marked Harry’s birthday with a public message on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “Wishing a happy 40th birthday to The Duke of Sussex!” It was the first public acknowledgment of Harry’s birthday by the Waleses since 2021.
The same source explained that Kate “was very much the driving force behind Harry’s birthday wishes.” The gesture reportedly held great meaning for Harry. “It meant the world to Harry that the royals, as well as the Waleses, sent this olive branch on social media,” the source added.
While Kate found it within herself to extend forgiveness, William was said to be struggling with his lingering frustration. “She doesn’t believe it’s right to just give up on Harry. She’s worried for him because she sees all the signs of how homesick and vulnerable he is,” the insider said.
Kate’s Influence on William and the Broader Royal Approach
Royal commentator Jennie Bond supported the notion that Kate played a key role in softening William’s stance. Speaking to The Mirror, she stated, “Perhaps she has persuaded William that life is too short for grudges. Birthday wishes posted on the main royal family website are also a sign of a possible thaw in relations between Harry and his father.
Although Bond acknowledged that a full reconciliation between the brothers may never come, she suggested that the gesture might mark the beginning of a subtle shift. “But this is only a tentative first step in a complex and sensitive situation. I still think the brothers’ relationship is almost irretrievable,” she concluded.
The Fallout from ‘Spare’ and the Strain on Kate
In his memoir Spare, Harry shed light on the strained dynamics between himself and Kate. As noted by Hello! magazine, he recounted an incident where Kate allegedly made Meghan Markle cry, and suggested she had a role in influencing his controversial decision to wear a Nazi costume years ago.
Royal expert Katie Nicholl told The Sun that Harry’s portrayal of Kate in the book severely damaged their relationship. “She tried to get the brothers back on an even keel, and for Kate to be dragged into this mucky saga was upsetting for her and certainly did infuriate William,” Nicholl said.
Since the release of Spare, Harry and Kate have not been seen together publicly. Their last joint appearance was at King Charles’ coronation on May 6, 2023.