Prince Harry Accused Of Being 'Trapped In The Past' While William Moves Forward With The Monarchy

Prince William and Prince Harry remain estranged, with little sign of reconciliation despite the Duke of Sussex's recent trip to London for a court case.

Royal experts say the brothers are "worlds apart," with the future king focused on duty and the monarchy, while Harry remains tied to past grievances.

Their father, King Charles, faces a delicate balance supporting Prince Harry, especially with the upcoming Invictus Games, while Meghan Markle's potential attendance remains a mystery.

William and Harry may never fully reconcile. Earlier this month, the Duke of Sussex, 41, returned to London from Montecito, California, to testify in his lawsuit against British publisher Associated Newspapers. Yet, he did not meet with his older brother.

Royal commentator Robert Jobson told HELLO! magazine that despite being in the same country, the brothers seem "worlds apart."

He described William and Kate Middleton as "the embodiment of the future of the monarchy," while Harry appears "trapped in the past," still focused on grievances and "yesterday's battles."

Jobson contrasted the two princes, noting William is committed to duty and shaping the future, whereas Harry remains caught up in disputes over the past.

During the duke's court appearance, he  accused the newspapers of making Meghan's life "an absolute misery."

"William is building a future, and he no longer needs Harry's drama," Jobson said. "You can't bridge that gap when one brother is moving forward, and the other won't let go of the past and the bitterness. Reconciliation needs compromise, but it mostly needs trust, and there is no trust between the brothers."

The last time the two couples met was at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in 2022. Tensions first escalated when Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020.

While King Charles has been working toward a resolution with Harry and Meghan, William reportedly has no interest in repairing the relationship if it could complicate his future reign.

Royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital that William "has absolutely no interest in mending fences," adding that after their acrimonious departure six years ago, "there is no turning back" for Harry and Meghan.

Despite the tension with his brother, Harry has maintained contact with their father. There were also reports that they had taken major steps toward reconciliation after senior aides of both parties were seen having a meeting.

During his September visit to the UK, Harry met privately with King Charles for the first time since February 2024.

That meeting is believed to have paved the way for a potential reconciliation between father and son.

The visit also raised hopes that Charles could take a key role at next year's Invictus Games, returning to the UK for the first time since 2014.

Royal sources say Harry "desperately wants Charles at Invictus," ideally sharing the stage with him to open the event, which honors wounded military personnel and veterans.

Supporting Harry presents Charles with a delicate challenge, as he risks being seen as favoring one son over the other.

"Invictus has become pivotal," BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond explained. "It is Harry's great cause and his greatest achievement, and any father would want to support his son as the games come to the UK. But it's not straightforward for the king – sadly for him, his family matters never are."

Bond added that Charles could face a classic dilemma of choosing between his warring sons.

"We can only imagine how William might feel if Charles publicly threw his support behind the games and Harry," she said.

"William has bitten his lip, risen above the accusations, and knuckled down to the job, in spite of the brutal cancer diagnoses for both Catherine and Charles. To see his father stand on a very public platform and salute Harry's achievement would be tough. But that's the dilemma the king might face."

While the focus is on Harry's relationship with his father, Meghan's potential presence at the Invictus Games is also being watched.

She has previously supported Harry at the event, and Bond told The Mirror that Meghan is likely to attend despite possible hostility in the UK.

"Meghan is a savvy woman," said Bond. "She must know that she's likely to encounter a degree of hostility in the UK, but in the bubble of the Invictus Games, she is safe."

She added: "They love her, so perhaps that's a reason she would come – to support Harry as she always has at Invictus. To stay away would inevitably become as newsworthy as her presence. The headlines would scream: 'Proof, if it were needed – Meghan can't stand the UK!'"

Harry has also been seeking to overturn a decision to downgrade his security in the UK, a restriction that came after he stepped back from royal duties.

Following the ruling, Harry had said he "can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK." He is now awaiting a Home Office review, which could be decisive in determining whether future trips to the UK for the Sussexes are feasible.