The Duke and Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, told the Royal Family they would not return to public service on Friday, leading to them being stripped of their titles and patronages. While reports have claimed William is keen to repair his relationship with Harry, a source has claimed the brothers are still distant in the wake of ‘Megxit’.
William and Harry have been said to have been in contact since the Sussex royals stepped down from working royal life last March.
But a source close to the Duke of Sussex has said the brothers, while still supportive, are not as close as they were before ‘Megxit’.
They said of their relationship: “It’s not where it once was.
“However, they are brothers and will support each other and are committed to coming together to honour their late mother’s legacy.”
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Speaking to ET Online, the source suggested the Sussex royals wanted to return to the UK, but the coronavirus pandemic has prevented them from doing so.
They added: “The Sussexes would have definitely been back and forth somewhat already but of course the pandemic changed things.
“When the world opens up again, there will be plans to return and all the rest of it. We just don’t know at the moment.”
The source added Harry is disappointed he could not retain his former military appointments after Queen Elizabeth II rejected his “half-in half-out” approach to royal service.
However, a source close to William claimed the Duke wants to mend his relationship with Harry now they can focus on “purely family matters”.
They said to the Telegraph: “There is hope that they can all move forward now these loose ends have been tied up once and for all.
“The (one year) review had been hanging over both sides for some time but now it has finally been resolved, it allows all parties to work on purely family matters.”
Another aide added: “Once he got over the anger of how things happened, he was left with the absence of his brother.
“They had shared everything about their lives – an office, a foundation, meetings together most days – and there was a lot of fun along the way.
“He’ll miss it forever.”
Robert Lacey, royal historian and author, claimed in his book ‘Battle of Brothers’ one of the reasons for Harry and Meghan’s royal exit was over William and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge.
In his book, he claimed Harry was enraged when William told him to “take your time with this girl”, and Meghan and Kate had a frosty relationship.
In a later interview with Newsweek in October, he “no longer rates highly the chances of reconciliation”.
