The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are taking a long-view approach to the royal rift as tensions remain unresolved

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in October 2025; King Charles, Prince William and Kate Middleton in September 2025.Credit : John Nacion/WireImage; Samir Hussein/WireImage

While Prince Harry has long spoken about his hopes for reconciliation with his family, the divide remains.

After years of distance, there has been some renewed contact between him and his father, King Charles in recent months. They’re speaking more these days, a source says, though they have not seen each other since last September.

While the monarch, 77, is currently in the U.S. on an official state visit, sources say there are no plans for a reunion, and given the tight schedule and strict protocol around the visit, the Duke of Sussex, 41, wouldn’t ask for it.

The rift appears most entrenched with his brother, Prince William, 43, however — with some questioning whether it can ever fully heal.

“William is over all the drama,” says Robert Jobson, author of The Windsor Legacy, tells PEOPLE in this weeks issue. “He doesn’t need it, and he doesn’t want it. He’s too busy and focused on his own family.”

Prince William and Prince Harry on Sept. 10, 2022.Chris Jackson – WPA Pool/Getty Images

Others describe a stalemate. “They’re at a standoff,” adds royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith, author of the Royals Extra Substack.

At the same time, Harry and Meghan’s approach to public life — continuing charitable work while also pursuing independent, income-generating ventures — has kept a long-running debate alive within palace circles, particularly following their high-profile tour of Australia. The four-day visit echoed the kind of engagements they once undertook as working royals, from hospital stops to moments of remembrance, while underscoring the hybrid model they now operate under.

“It won’t help Harry’s case or promote good relations,” says Ailsa Anderson, Queen Elizabeth’s former press secretary.

Those close to the couple push back on that characterization. “They’re not reliant on Harry’s father or taxpayer-funded money,” says an insider. “They pay their own bills and make their own money while continuing to support a lot of causes that might otherwise go unseen. It enables them to do what they love.”

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on April 14, 2026.Jonathan Brady-Pool/Getty

Still, it’s unlikely to ease tensions with William. What Harry and Meghan Markle are doing remains “a nonnegotiable” for the future King, Anderson says. “He wouldn’t countenance any acceptance of it.”

While in Ukraine earlier this month, Harry addressed the idea of being a “non-working royal” — a label he rejected outright.

“I will always be part of the royal family,” he said. “I am here working, doing the things I was born to do.”

Behind the scenes, those close to Harry and Meghan describe a united front when it comes to navigating the complexities of his family.

“Meghan lets him lead on all royal matters,” a friend tells PEOPLE. “But it would never put them at odds — they’re on the same team.”

Adds another source: “It remains very emotional. Harry and Meghan are both realistic. They’re not approaching it with the expectation of a quick resolution. It’s about taking small, manageable steps and seeing where things land. This remains very important to Harry, with Meghan supportive.”

King Charles, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on Dec. 25, 2018.Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage

Even as he looks ahead, Harry is still reckoning with his past. Speaking at the InterEdge Summit in Melbourne, he reflected on the loss of his mother, Princess Diana, and his early resistance to royal life.

“I was like, ‘I don’t want this job. I don’t want this role — wherever this is headed, I don’t like it,’ ” he said. “It killed my mom, and I was very much against it.”

Over time, his perspective shifted. “I realized… how would somebody else make the most of this platform?” he said. “And what would my mom want me to do?”

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on April 14, 2026.PA Images/INSTARimages

For now, the Sussexes’ focus remains on their life in Montecito, where their work is often scheduled around school hours and weekends are reserved for family time with Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4.

“Archie and Lilibet are their life,” says a staffer who has worked for the couple since their early days in California. “There’s a real warmth and a sense of normalcy.”