A FAMILY FRACTURED

Two generations of royal brothers are at odds. Could King Charles and the disgraced former Prince Andrew ever reconcile? And what does the future hold for Prince William and Prince Harry?

- by JAIME HARKIN

It looks like it's going to be a summer to remember for Prince Harry. In July, the former working royal will travel across the pond to mark the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, in tow. Harry has returned to England a number of times since he moved to the U.S. in 2020, but it will be the first time back for Meghan and the kids since 2022.

Despite their estrangement, King Charles III has invited the family of four to stay at a royal residence during their visit. "He's made it clear their comfort and security is a priority," says a source. "Everyone's buzzing with excitement, saying this might be the first step in mending the relationship at large."

The olive branch certainly seems like a good sign, but there's no question the royal family at large remains fractured. And the widest rifts are between Harry and his older brother, Prince William, and Charles and his younger brother Andrew (formerly Prince Andrew). William, 44, is angry at Harry, 41, for airing the royal family's dirty laundry in his 2023 memoir, Spare, and in TV interviews, while Charles, 77, stripped Andrew, 66, of his titles and royal status last fall over his ties to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

For Charles and William — who's set to succeed his father to the throne — their loyalty to the crown only complicates matters. "This is a family for whom, for many years, duties come first, and I think that it's a very difficult balance, because there are human beings involved and at the end of the day, siblings involved," says royal expert Emily Nash. "You don't want to turn your back on them completely, but at the same time, you have to protect the institution."

WILLIAM VS. HARRY