Princess Diana “would have understood Prince William’s path within the royal family” – while she is “sympathetic” to Prince Harry, one biographer has claimed.
The Duke of Cambridge, 40, and the Duke of Sussex, 37, have not spoken to each other in person since a statue of their late mother Diana was unveiled last summer.
Royal experts have said Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, 41, are unlikely to meet William and his wife Kate Middleton, 40, after they return to the UK in September this year.
Now biographer James Patterson, who recently wrote Diana, William & Harry, weighed how the late Princess of Wales would feel about the current state of her sons’ relationship.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Patterson said: “I think she would have been very sympathetic, absolutely sympathetic to what Harry did, but I think she would have understood Will’s path as well. She was that kind of person.’
It comes as the former private secretary to Princes William and Harry claimed the Duke of Cambridge “made a conscious decision” to put duty before family after Megxit.
Princess Diana “would have understood Prince William’s path within the royal family” – while she is “sympathetic” to Prince Harry, one biographer has claimed
Meanwhile, Patterson continued, “She wasn’t particularly judgmental.”
Elsewhere, he said he expects the pair to mend their relationship going forward, adding he’d be surprised if they didn’t eventually become close again.
His comments come as Prince George’s godfather Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton said William will always put the future of the firm and the best interests of the monarchy ahead of his relationship with his brother.
Speaking in a forthcoming Channel 4 documentary, The Real Windsors: A Very Modern Prince?, he said: “Prince William is very analytical and asks all the questions and makes sure he understands what you are asking of him.
Royal experts have said Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, 41, are unlikely to meet William and his wife Kate Middleton, 40, after they return to the UK in September this year
“His sort of moral compass is pointing absolutely due north. He has the clearest understanding of what’s right and what’s wrong of almost anyone I know, and he won’t back down from it, even if it means taking a hit.
“There are many instances when I worked for him where it would have been very easy to go down a path, but it wouldn’t have been the honorable or right thing for him to take the more difficult path.”
The documentary is released as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex prepare to travel from their home in California to visit two charities in the UK, as well as to an event to commemorate a year before the Invictus Games in Germany Dusseldorf.
However, Prince William will want to avoid Prince Harry until he has had a chance to read his younger brother’s memoirs, according to royal biographer Angela Levin.
Elsewhere, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told FEMAIL that the rift between the Cambridges and the Sussexes is “very deep”, meaning a reunion between the couples in the UK “is unlikely” to happen.
Ms Levin said Prince William and Kate, 40, will likely be waiting to see what Prince Harry has to say in his forthcoming memoir, due for release this winter, before healing a tear.
‘[The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge] are very busy at the moment,” the royal author said. “They are moving and need to place their children in new schools. They are very busy taking on so many more engagements for the Queen.
“And I don’t know if William wants to reconcile with Harry. I think it’s very difficult and certainly not before his memoir comes out because we don’t know what he’s going to say.
‘[Harry’s] was very rude and cruel. We’ll have to see what he does and they might not want to see them until it’s all in the open and they know what he’s saying.”
Elsewhere, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told FEMAIL that the rift between the Cambridges and the Sussexes is “very deep”, meaning a reunion between the couples in the UK “is unlikely” to happen
Mr Fitzwilliams also suggested a UK reunion in September was unlikely, stating: “I suspect that gap is very deep, according to reports it probably won’t be.”
On September 5, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will travel to Manchester for the One Young World Summit, which brings together young leaders from more than 190 countries. Meghan will deliver the keynote speech at the opening ceremony.
The couple will then travel to Germany for an event to commemorate a year leading up to the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf on September 6, before returning to the UK on September 8 for the WellChild Awards in London, where Prince Harry will deliver a speech .
It’s the first time the couple has been in the UK since the anniversary celebrations in June, when they kept a low profile. They also visited her in April when they secretly met up with Charles and the Queen on their way to the Netherlands.
The Duke of Cambridge and his family are moving from Kensington Palace to Adelaide Cottage later this month, just a 10-minute walk from Windsor Castle.
Prince William (pictured with his wife Kate in June 2022), 40, will want to avoid Prince Harry until he has had a chance to read his younger brother’s memoirs, according to royal biographer Angela Levin
If the Sussexes stay at their home, Frogmore Cottage, they will be a five-minute walk from the Cambridges, who will be just half a mile away when they move to Adelaide in the next few weeks.
It’s the first time the two couples have been neighbors since Prince Harry and Meghan moved out of Kensington Palace in 2019.
However, a source reportedly said the Sussexes’ visit will focus on “supporting several charities close to their hearts” and they have no plans to see the Cambridges.
Majesty Magazine editor Ingrid Seward told the Sun: “I don’t think they would meet unless it was pre-arranged.
“I suppose you could walk around with some flowers as a peace offering, but remember what happened last time,” referring to claims that Meghan threw flowers from Kate in the bin after an argument over bridesmaid dresses before Harry and Meghan tied the knot in 2018.
It is considered unlikely that the couple will bring their children Archie, three, and Lilibet, 14 months. Harry took legal action against the government after being told he would no longer receive the “same level” of protection here after stepping down from royal life in 2020.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment.