Prince Harry has been out of royal duties since 2020, but is there any chance of a comeback? According to insiders speaking to In Touch, the answer is a firm no. Despite Harry’s wishes, his older brother and heir to the throne, Prince William, has decisively “shut the door” on any return — citing a fundamental lack of trust.
One source revealed bluntly, “William doesn’t believe Harry has the intelligence to manage even a scaled-back role within the Firm.” To put it plainly, “He thinks his brother is reckless and blindly follows bad advice.”
Adding fuel to the fire, another palace insider claimed that William sees Meghan Markle as a manipulative force in Harry’s life — labeling her “conniving” and suggesting she holds undue influence over him.
An insider revealed Prince William’s bewilderment over why Harry has repeatedly driven a wedge between himself and the royal family — from the explosive revelations in his memoir Spare to the highly publicized Oprah interview. “William couldn’t understand why his brother would burn bridges with his own family and the unique opportunities royal life offered him and Meghan to advance the humanitarian causes they profess to champion,” the source said.
Ultimately, William concluded that Harry’s actions stem from a lack of insight. The insider added, “William came to believe Harry is too dense to fully grasp the damage he’s inflicted.”
But how are Harry and Meghan supporting themselves without royal backing? They initially landed lucrative entertainment deals — including a $20 million contract with Spotify and a massive $100 million agreement with Netflix. However, those ventures haven’t gone as planned. Spotify canceled their deal, and Netflix’s partnership is on shaky ground. The streaming giant already pulled the plug on Meghan’s animated series Pearl, and the announcement of Harry’s polo documentary coincided awkwardly with Princess Catherine’s chemotherapy news, casting a shadow over the project.
It’s clear the rift between the two brothers runs deep. While insiders say Prince William is firmly opposed to Harry returning as a working royal, Harry seems to be holding out for an apology first. The younger prince has expressed willingness to resume some royal duties — but only if William apologizes.
One source revealed, “William told his friends that Harry is ‘daft in the head’ for even suggesting such a thing.” The insider added, “It’s not happening. Queen Elizabeth, God rest her soul, made it crystal clear to Harry: there’s no middle ground. You’re either in or you’re out.”
Meanwhile, William appears to believe that Harry is the one with plenty to apologize for — but is too oblivious to see it. The insider said, “William is perfectly fine keeping his brother at a safe distance across the Atlantic. It’s not about hurting Harry; it’s about protecting the monarchy. He genuinely believes Harry’s lack of judgment poses a real threat to the throne, to Britain, and to himself.”
Watch the video below to learn more about how William and Harry’s relationship is impacting the British monarchy.
