Kate Middleton hit ‘final straw’ with Prince Harry: author
Christopher Andersen, author of "Kate!," details why the Princess of Wales reportedly reached her breaking point in the feud between Prince William and Prince Harry.
Kate Middleton has zero interest in trying to make peace during Prince Harry’s chaotic visit to the U.K.
The claim was made by multiple royal experts who spoke to Fox News Digital after a source told Us Weekly the Princess of Wales was "trying to convince" her husband, Prince William, to meet with his estranged brother.
"Kate is no longer in the business of trying to reunite the brothers," Christopher Andersen, author of "Kate!," told Fox News Digital. "It really is a year of magical thinking when people seriously suggest that the Princess of Wales has the emotional bandwidth to cope with the Sussexes."
PRINCE WILLIAM’S ‘RUTHLESS SIDE’ EMERGES AS HE VIEWS PRINCE HARRY AS ‘UNTRUSTWORTHY': EXPERTS
Prince Harry (right) arrived in the U.K. on July 6, 2026. Several royal experts told Fox News Digital that his sister-in-law, Kate Middleton (left), doesn't have any plans to launch peace talks between the Duke of Sussex and his older brother, Prince William. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
"Unfortunately, my sources do not believe Princess Catherine is pushing for Prince William to meet Prince Harry," British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard also told Fox News Digital. "She isn’t pushing for a meeting. She is, however, the one royal who could soften things emotionally, hence the reason Princess Catherine, 'the peacemaker,’ keeps rearing her head."
"Kate!: The Courage, Grace, and Power of the Woman Who Will Be Queen" by Christopher Andersen is available now. (Gallery Books)
"The feeling inside the Wales camp is that Catherine will not allow her family, and especially William, to be sucked back into the Sussex drama," Chard shared. "The Sussex circus of briefings, counter-briefings and public spectacle is seen as tiresome and, frankly, not good for the Wales family’s well-being."
Harry's trip to his home country sparked controversy before it even began.
WATCH: KATE MIDDLETON HIT ‘FINAL STRAW’ WITH PRINCE HARRY: AUTHOR
On July 6, Harry's spokesperson told People magazine that an offer for the Duke of Sussex to stay at Buckingham Palace during his London visit was withdrawn after he had formally accepted it.
However, palace sources disputed that account, saying Harry failed to respond by the deadline and that his later acceptance came only after arrangements could no longer be made.
Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, stand on the Buckingham Palace balcony in London following the coronations of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023. William is heir to the British throne. (Leon Neal/AFP)
Harry had also hoped to bring his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two young children to Britain for the first time since 2022. But after learning the family would receive police protection only while on royal property — and not throughout the visit — it was reported on July 4 that Harry decided they would not accompany him.
Meghan Markle's last visit to the U.K. was in September 2022, when she joined the royal family in mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth II. (Chris Jackson/WPA Pool/Getty Images)
On July 6, the prince arrived in London alone. He is expected to be in the U.K. through July 11. It's unclear whether he will meet with his father or whether his family will join him later in the week.
Prince Harry and Prince William were once known for their close relationship. They are said to not be on speaking terms. (Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Russell Myers, royal editor of the Mirror, reported that King Charles "has no plans to alter his diary this week" to see Harry after his son decided not to bring his grandchildren. Myers pointed out that the king, who is still seeking cancer treatment, has only met Prince Archie "a handful of times" when Harry and Meghan lived in the U.K. and has met Princess Lilibet only once, in the summer of 2022.
Fox News Digital reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment.
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The Duke of Sussex arrives for the Invictus Games Foundation Conversation: From Policy to Practice, at Chatham House, London, which is bringing together experts, policymakers and members of the Invictus community to discuss issues affecting wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans. The event is part of the One Year to Go celebrations for the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027. The event took place on July 7, 2026. (Stefan Rousseau/PA Images via Getty Images)
"Harry has made a song and dance out of this visit," said Chard. "If reconciliation was truly the goal, you would think he would have flown Meghan, Archie and Lilibet over quietly to see King Charles. A warm family reunion without the leaks or press involvement. Instead, Harry remains a wild card. He’s unpredictable to the establishment."
Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, arrives at Chatham House in central London on July 7, 2026, to attend the Invictus Games Foundation Conversation: From Policy to Practice, as part of the One Year to Go celebrations for the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027. (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back as senior royals in 2020, citing what they described as unbearable intrusions by the British press and a lack of support from the palace.
Harry has also been denied restoration of taxpayer-funded security by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC).
From left: Prince William, Prince of Wales, King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend the Thistle Service at St. Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland on July 1, 2026. (Aaron Chown/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
People magazine reported that Harry's team spent several days exploring ways to make the visit safe through enhanced private security arrangements. Palace sources claimed Harry initially declined the invitation to stay at a royal residence before accepting it on Saturday.
British royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital that William has zero interest in reuniting with his brother — and Kate will stand by her husband.
Kate, Princess of Wales, rides with her sons Prince George and Prince Louis in an open-top carriage returning to Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in London on June 13, 2026. (Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP)
"King Charles has always been hopeful regarding a form of reconciliation, while Prince William remains resolute in opposition to any such thawing," said Fordwich.
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Prince William, Prince of Wales, is seen during a visit to the Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain (The London Welsh School) on July 7,2026, in London, England. (Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
"Given Prince William’s stance, it is highly unlikely that Princess Catherine has been pressing him for a reconciliation. She, too, suffered from all of Harry’s disclosures in ‘Spare.’ She, along with many, is beyond frustrated at Harry’s shenanigans, given the debacle around his stay."
King Charles and Prince Harry are seen here during happier times. (Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage)
"The trip was a mess before Harry arrived," said royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams. "Princess Catherine would support whatever William decided in dealing with his brother. Looking at the chaos the visit has become, it isn’t difficult to see why William and Catherine are certain to stay out of it. If the Sussexes were sincere, it would be private."
Chard stressed that the position of Kensington Palace, which handles the offices of the Prince and Princess of Wales, hasn’t changed.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, attends the 2026 Wimbledon Tennis Championships at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 2, 2026, in London. (Karwai Tang/WireImage)
"The optics of a meeting right now are damaging to the institution," she said. "Peace is wanted. But not at the cost of stability."
In May, Andersen told Fox News Digital that Kate refused to stop trying to mend William and Harry’s relationship. However, Harry’s remarks about the king’s mortality became the breaking point. Kensington Palace told Fox News Digital it does not comment on books.
Prince Harry, seen here in 2016 with Prince William and Kate Middleton, was eager to meet his soulmate and turn their trio into a fabulous foursome, author Christopher Andersen claimed. (Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
"She would not give up," said Andersen. "Even after Harry threw William under the bus in his memoir ‘Spare,’ she was willing to keep trying. And the final break came.
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From left: Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend a ceremony to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace on July 10, 2018, in London. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
"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.’ Well, that kind of statement can be very hurtful to somebody who doesn’t really want to consider their own mortality and is battling cancer."
"It was hurtful to Kate as well, I believe," said Andersen. "And, of course, it just ignited this firestorm of speculation about how sick the king really was at this point. And Kate pretty much felt that would be it.
Prince Harry's memoir on display in a bookstore on Jan. 11, 2023, in Bath, England. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
"She wasn’t going to try anymore. So she has not. And as a result, there has been no chance of any … As a matter of fact, I don’t think we’re ever going to see them make amends. At least it’s not on the horizon now."
Catherine, Princess of Wales, leaves holding a bouquet after visiting Evelina London Children's Hospital in London, on July 6, 2026. (Zeynep Demir/Anadolu via Getty Images)
In May 2025, Harry told the BBC he wanted to reconcile with his family after losing a court battle over his publicly funded security, which he said led to his father no longer speaking to him.
"I would love reconciliation with my family," said the 41-year-old. "There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore. I don’t know how much longer my father has."
In 2025, Prince Harry told the BBC he would love to reconcile with his family. (Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP Photo)
Andersen wrote that Kate, 44, was "disappointed" with Harry, while William, 44, was "apoplectic" with rage over the remarks, a courtier claimed. Andersen also wrote that Kate told William she "was done with Harry."
Kate Middleton announced she was in remission from cancer on Jan. 14, 2025, nearly a year after revealing her diagnosis. (Daniel Leal/AFP)
"Princess Catherine is the sweetest, most loving person you could ever know," a Sandringham staffer told Andersen. "But like everyone else, she has her limits."