Prince Harry would like to reconcile with his family following years of tensions, but friends have claimed this is a “fantasy” as his brother Prince William wants to protect his wife and kids following Catherine’s cancer diagnosis.

Since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as senior royals and moved to the US in 2020, the pair issued a number of attacks against The Firm through interviews, TV shows, and Harry’s memoir, Spare, which was published in January 2023. It now seems that Harry is hoping to build bridges. Following the news of his father’s cancer earlier this year, he declared he loves his family and hoped the illness could have a reunifying effect.

Earlier this month, Harry travelled to London to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, but did not meet his family, even though a spokesperson for the Duke said he hoped to see King Charles “soon”. Amid speculation, a friend of the royals claimed that the major block in the way of reconciliation is coming from the Prince of Wales.

Prince Harry hopes to reconcile with his family

Harry and Meghan during their recent trip to Nigeria

The unnamed friend claimed that at the moment, meeting with Harry is “the last thing” William and his wife Catherine want as they are “avoiding stressful situations” and focusing on her health. The friend, who spoke to The Daily Beast, claimed: “Meeting with Harry is the last thing that William or Catherine want or need right now.

“It’s a fantasy. It’s not about apologies or who said what, it is about protecting his family. Kate is recovering from cancer, and they are avoiding stressful situations.”

Another friend said the meeting between Harry and Charles earlier this year was a “significant step in the right direction” but added the road to reconciliation is still long and the idea that Harry and his children might head to Balmoral with the rest of the family in the summer is “wishful thinking”.

According to a friend of Charles and Camilla, William is “furious with his brother” but this is not sustainable as, once he becomes King, having an ongoing rift with his younger brother could make him look “petty and ridiculous”.

Harry and William have not been close in recent years
The comments come as royal expert Tom Quinn told the Mirror that Harry has reached out to Princess Kate since he has been living in America. The royal author told us: “Since leaving the UK, Harry has actually contacted at least one royal: Kate.” However, he warned Harry might not receive the welcome he is expecting.

Tom suggested: “She is sympathetic, but fully supports her husband and, struggling with her own health problems, has no intention of playing peacemaker.” Meanwhile, sources have claimed that Harry and Meghan could be invited to Ghana after their “triumph” on their high-profile trip to Nigeria.

The West African country’s officials and leading icons are keen for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex to visit after their “success” in their neighbouring country Nigeria, sources exclusively told The Mirror. Insiders say the country’s leading bigwigs and artistic influencers are keen for the Sussexes to fly to Accra, the capital of Ghana that was so loved by Harry’s late Grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, and they will pull out all the stops to make them feel at home.

Prince Harry’s representatives did not comment on the story