Harry and Meghan returning to UK after 6 years; will Prince William forgive his brother after years of royal rift?

Prince Harry and Meghan’s planned return to the UK is raising a bigger question than where the couple will live or how their security will be handled: can Harry rebuild his fractured relationship with his brother, Prince William?

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to return to Britain from California within weeks, with their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, reportedly set to attend British schools from the autumn term.

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The unexpected move, first reported late Wednesday by the Telegraph and the Sun, has triggered speculation over the couple’s future in Britain, including their residence, security arrangements and whether they could eventually resume royal duties.

However, the most delicate issue remains Harry’s relationship with William, the heir to the throne. The brothers’ once-close bond has deteriorated sharply following Harry and Meghan’s public criticism of the royal family and Buckingham Palace.

Harry has spoken publicly about feeling mistreated by palace staff, while the couple have raised allegations of racism within the royal family and criticised the institution of the monarchy.

Their return could also create new tensions if Harry and Meghan find themselves sharing the public spotlight with William and his wife, Catherine.

"That will be something for the palace to deal with ..." Craig Prescott, an expert on the U.K. constitution and the monarchy at Royal Holloway University of London, told The Associated Press. "They wouldn't want Meghan and Harry's presence in the U.K. here to overshadow the work of the monarchy, and there will have to be some discussion and allowance for that."

Also read: Prince Harry and Meghan to move back to Britain, media reports say

Harry wants his children to have a British upbringing

Harry and Meghan are expected to settle at a private, nonroyal property outside London. British media reports say they will not return to official royal duties, having stepped down from them in 2020 before moving to Montecito, California.

Their return also comes as King Charles III, Harry’s father, continues treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer diagnosed in 2024.

Harry has previously spoken about wanting his children to build a relationship with their grandfather. Last year, he said he did not know "how much time my father has left."

Royal historian Ed Owens said several recent developments may have paved the way for Harry and Meghan’s return.

Harry has repeatedly expressed a desire for reconciliation, while a recent meeting involving Charles, Harry, Meghan and their children at the king’s Highgrove estate appeared to go well.

The couple’s wish for their children to grow up with a connection to Britain may also have influenced the decision. Owens, author of "After Elizabeth: Can the Monarchy Save Itself?", said the UK could also appear increasingly attractive amid social divisions in the US.

Also Read: Kate Middleton’s name became a royal branding battle and Prince William was reportedly ‘fuming’

Will William forgive his brother?

While Charles may be willing to repair relations with his younger son, William could prove harder to win over.

Owens believes the king is likely to forgive Harry, pointing to Charles’ position as supreme governor of the Church of England and the Christian emphasis on forgiveness.

William, he suggested, could ultimately do the same publicly even if their personal relationship remains complicated.

"It may be that privately William never fully forgives his younger brother for what he deems the betrayal of the family," Owens told The AP. "But publicly," he will, "because for traditional moralists, traditional Christian values, they demand that there is this public act of forgiveness, that there's reconciliation between the brothers."

Charles was informed of Harry and Meghan’s plans on Sunday, though the subject reportedly did not come up during their recent UK visit.

A royal rift that has lasted years

Harry and Meghan’s relationship with the royal family has been strained since they stepped away from royal duties and relocated to California.

The couple subsequently signed major commercial deals, including agreements with Netflix and Spotify, while their public criticism of the monarchy intensified.

Their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey and Harry’s memoir "Spare" brought the family dispute into even sharper focus. The couple accused palace officials of failing to support Meghan during her struggles with mental health and alleged that a member of the royal family had made racist remarks about their first child.

Asked by Winfrey why they had left Britain, Harry summed it up as:

"Lack of support and lack of understanding," he replied.

Security dispute remains a major sticking point

Harry’s disputes with Britain have also extended beyond the royal family.

He has been engaged in lengthy legal battles with British newspapers, accusing them of unlawfully accessing his phone and invading his privacy. A major case involving the publisher of the Daily Mail ended badly for Harry and other plaintiffs last month, potentially leaving them facing millions of pounds in legal costs.

Associated Newspapers has told the court that its legal costs amounted to 34.5 million pounds ($47 million).

Harry has separately challenged decisions over police protection for himself and his family during visits to Britain. He argues that armed security is necessary because of the risks associated with being members of the royal family, regardless of whether they are working royals.

Asked about the issue on Thursday, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the couple’s security arrangements were a "private matter" for Harry and Meghan.

Harry previously lost a legal challenge over the security decision in May 2025. At the time, he spoke of wanting to reconcile with his family but remained deeply critical of those in Britain whom he believed had mistreated him and Meghan.

"I can't see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point," he told the BBC at the time. "And the things that they're going to miss is, well, everything. You know, I love my country. I always have done, despite what some people in that country have done."

Could time finally heal the royal family’s divisions?

With Harry and Meghan preparing to spend more time in Britain, the focus could shift from old grievances to whether the family can finally repair its fractured relationships.

Owens believes the passage of time could help create space for reconciliation, particularly after years of public disputes.

"I think time is a great healer. It creates space in a social media-saturated world," he said. "People are always looking for the next thing to talk about and, arguably, that will be reconciliation between first of all father and son, and then potentially the two brothers."

With inputs from AP