The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, has permanently ended her attempts to reconcile Prince William and Prince Harry, according to royal authors.
The decision follows remarks by the Duke of Sussex about King Charles III's cancer and ongoing tensions over palace staff.
>>> Kane Parsons Adapts YouTube Horror Series into A24 Feature Film
Royal author Christopher Andersen said the final break came after Prince Harry publicly commented on his father's mortality following the King's cancer diagnosis.
The statement sparked widespread speculation about the severity of the King's condition.
"The final straw came really shortly after the king was diagnosed with cancer, when Harry [essentially] said, 'I'd like to mend fences because we just don't know how long [my father] has to live,'" Andersen said.
He noted that such a statement can be deeply hurtful to someone battling cancer.
Andersen added that the remark also affected Kate personally. "It was hurtful to Kate as well, I believe," he said.
The resulting media firestorm led the Princess to abandon all future mediation efforts.
"Kate pretty much felt that would be it. She wasn't going to try anymore.
So she has not," Andersen said.
He expressed doubt that the brothers will ever reconcile, stating, "I don't think we're ever going to see them make amends."
Kate's Role as Mediator
Andersen described the close relationship that once existed among William, Harry, and Kate. "William, Harry and Kate had a very close relationship.
[Harry] referred to Kate as the sister he never had," he said. The trio shared a warm bond and a common sense of humor for many years.
However, the dynamic changed after Harry's marriage to Meghan Markle. "Of course, it all exploded after his marriage to Meghan Markle," Andersen said.
Despite the fallout, Kate remained the one royal who continued to seek reconciliation.
"She was the one person in the royal family who wouldn't give up on them," Andersen said.
He noted that even after Harry's memoir "Spare," she was willing to keep trying. But the cancer remarks proved to be the breaking point.
>>> Police Incident Closes Manchester Airport Terminal 2 Forecourts
Andersen contrasted Kate and Meghan's personalities, noting their different backgrounds. "Meghan is quintessentially Californian," he said.
He added that their cultural and professional differences made a close friendship unlikely.
"I don't think Kate and Meghan were ever going to be great friends," Andersen said. He emphasized Kate's commitment to her royal duties and the monarchy.
"Kate Middleton was willing to make tremendous sacrifices for her husband, frankly, for her country, because she realized that the monarchy is extremely important," Andersen said.
He described loyalty as a core value for the Princess.
Staff Treatment as a Factor
Royal editor Russell Myers reported that the treatment of palace staff was another major issue for Kate.
While she initially viewed the disputes as immaturity, the couple's attitude toward employees changed her perspective.
The Duchess of Sussex faced allegations of bullying regarding palace staff in 2021, which her legal team firmly rejected.
Buckingham Palace conducted an internal review, but the findings were never made public.
Meghan described the allegations as "a calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation." A palace spokesperson said, "We don't comment on such books."
Kensington Palace did not issue a statement.
Royal commentators note that the relationship has severely declined. The family last appeared together publicly at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral in 2022.
"Things have sadly deteriorated since then," said royal editor Emily Nash.
A Sandringham staffer said, "Princess Catherine is the sweetest, most loving person you could ever know. But like everyone else, she has her limits."
>>> TfL Warns Commuters of Widespread Tube Strike Disruptions
Prince Harry and Meghan stepped back from senior royal duties in 2020 and now live in Montecito, California, with their two children.
