Prince William reportedly has no plans to reach out to his younger brother, Prince Harry, despite the Duke of Sussex’s latest public appeal to repair their fractured relationship.
The Prince of Wales, 44, is expected to remain silent following Harry’s emotional interview with GQ, published Tuesday, October 20, in which the 42-year-old royal expressed his desire to put years of family disagreements behind him.
According to royal journalist Tom Sykes, William is unlikely to respond publicly and may view Harry’s latest comments as another example of their private family problems being discussed in the media.
“Will William respond? I would be astonished if he responded publicly,” Sykes told Page Six. “He never does, and his silence is itself the response.”
The journalist, who writes The Royalist newsletter, said the brothers have not spoken since 2022 and suggested that Harry’s latest interview is unlikely to change the situation.
Sykes also believes William could be frustrated by his brother’s decision to raise the subject publicly rather than attempt to resolve their differences privately.
“Putting the onus on him through the pages of a magazine is not how you repair a relationship,” Sykes said.
However, William has not personally commented on the interview, and his private reaction remains unknown.
The speculation follows Harry’s candid conversation with GQ about grief, family relationships and his decision to return to Britain after six years living in California.
Asked whether he mourns the strained relationships with William and their father, King Charles III, Harry acknowledged that the estrangement remains difficult.
He explained that family disagreements are something many people experience, whether between siblings or between parents and children.
“Some people don’t want it to work out. I want it to work out,” Harry said.
He added that reconciliation was particularly important given the conflicts and challenges taking place around the world.
Harry also acknowledged that repairing relationships is not always easy, especially when painful memories continue to affect those involved.
His comments quickly attracted attention because of the longstanding tension between the brothers.
Some interpreted the remark about people opposing reconciliation as a possible reference to William or other members of the royal family.
However, a spokesperson for Harry firmly rejected that interpretation.
“It was absolutely not intended as a swipe at his brother or any other member of his family,” the spokesperson told Page Six, explaining that Harry had been speaking about relationships more generally.
The brothers’ relationship has deteriorated significantly since Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from their roles as senior working royals in 2020 and relocated to the United States.
Tensions intensified following the couple’s televised interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, their Netflix documentary series and Harry’s bestselling 2023 memoir, “Spare.”
In the book, Harry described several disagreements with William, including an alleged physical confrontation at Kensington Palace in 2019 over Meghan.
Harry claimed his older brother criticized Meghan’s behavior during the argument, which allegedly escalated into a physical altercation.
William has never publicly addressed the specific allegations in the memoir.
The brothers were last seen together publicly in September 2022, when they appeared with their wives outside Windsor Castle following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Despite their shared grief, the appearance did not lead to a lasting reconciliation.
Since then, Harry has repeatedly spoken about wanting to rebuild relationships with his family, although there has been little public indication of progress with William.
There have been some more encouraging developments involving King Charles.
Harry and his father have reportedly taken steps toward improving their relationship, particularly as the monarch has continued receiving treatment for cancer.
However, a similar breakthrough between the brothers has not been announced.
The situation has become especially significant following Harry and Meghan’s unexpected decision to move back to the United Kingdom in August 2026.
After spending six years in Montecito, California, the couple returned to Britain with their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5.
Harry told GQ that the move was partly motivated by his desire to give the children an opportunity to experience British schools and build closer relationships with friends and relatives in the country where he grew up.
He said Archie and Lilibet have adjusted well to their new school and are enjoying spending time with other children.
Despite their return, Harry and Meghan have not resumed official royal duties.
King Charles previously made clear that the Sussexes would continue living as private citizens rather than returning to their former positions as working members of the monarchy.
The couple recently made their first official joint public appearance since relocating, visiting community projects in Nottingham on October 15.
While Harry’s return has brought him geographically closer to his family, his relationship with William apparently remains unchanged.
Royal observers have suggested that years of public accusations and disagreements have created a level of mistrust that will be difficult to overcome.
Others believe that rebuilding their relationship may require both brothers to address their disagreements privately, away from the intense scrutiny that has surrounded the royal family for years.
For now, Harry has made his desire for reconciliation clear, but William has offered no public indication that he is ready to respond.
Whether the brothers eventually find a way to rebuild their relationship remains uncertain, even as they once again live in the same country.