Prince William is believed to be the main force preventing Prince Harry from returning to the Royal Family — and could take firm steps to ensure Harry’s children are excluded from royal life.
The bond between the two brothers has reportedly broken down beyond repair over the past five years. Prince Harry stepped away from royal duties and relocated to the US in 2020 with Meghan Markle, a decision some within the royal institution viewed as a betrayal. Since then, Harry has publicly criticized both the monarchy and his relatives, even as he maintains he wants to reconcile.
But insiders say William sees through what he views as a contradictory message — and remains a key barrier to any reconciliation between Harry and their father, King Charles.
Tensions escalated this year following reports that Harry and Meghan continued using their HRH styles, despite pledging to the late Queen Elizabeth that they would not.
While King Charles has chosen not to formally remove their HRH status, those close to Prince William say he would not hesitate to do so once he becomes king.
Children May Be Affected
If William follows through, the decision could also impact Harry and Meghan’s children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4. Raised in California, the children reportedly speak with American accents and are not actively involved in royal life.
According to sources, Harry is keen for his children to retain their HRH styles, which might leave the door open for them to take on royal roles in the future.
However, a source close to William dismissed this idea, telling the Daily Beast: “William obviously isn’t going to hire Archie and Lilibet. This is just trolling on the part of Harry and Meghan.”
The HRH — “His/Her Royal Highness” — isn’t a title in itself, but a style used when addressing certain members of the royal family. It doesn’t guarantee a formal royal position.
A friend of William’s clarified that removing HRH status is relatively straightforward. “An HRH is bestowed by letters patent — essentially a legally binding royal decree — and it can be revoked the same way,” they said.
They referenced the cases of Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson, both of whom lost their HRH styles after divorce, due to revised rules. “There is a distinction,” the source explained. “They’ve asked the Sussexes politely to stop using the style, to no avail. So I imagine William will simply issue new letters patent to formally remove the entire family’s right to use HRH when he becomes king.”
A Move Toward Streamlining the Monarchy
William is expected to present the decision as part of a broader initiative to modernize and streamline the royal family. “He could say that only working royals are entitled to use HRH, which makes sense if you’re trying to modernize,” the insider added. “Or he could specify that only children of the monarch may use it, not grandchildren — a move that would also clarify things for future generations of royals.”
The move could mark a significant shift in how royal status is granted and maintained — and send a clear message about the firm boundaries Prince William intends to draw when it comes to royal duties and family dynamics.