Prince Harry’s possible Diana film is ‘grenade’ at Prince William’s feet: expert
Royal broadcaster Helena Chard says Prince Harry’s reported Diana documentary won’t be viewed as a peace offering, warning it could reignite tensions with his older brother, Prince William.
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Prince Harry’s return to the U.K. could offer him his best chance yet to reconcile with his estranged brother, Prince William, but royal experts say a major obstacle remains in his way.
A the “best opportunity” to repair his fractured relationship with Prince William
“It would never happen with him in America,” the insider said. “This gives them [an] opportunity to try and mend that bridge.”
PRINCE WILLIAM ‘INCANDESCENT WITH ANGER’ AT PRINCE HARRY AS DIANA ANNIVERSARY DEEPENS ROYAL RIFT: PIERS MORGAN
Prince William, Prince of Wales, left, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, join the Procession following the State Hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II towards St George’s Chapel on Sept. 19, 2022, in Windsor, England. Aift with William.(Justin Setterfield/
But royal experts told Fox News Digital that Harry’s reported plans to consider making a documentary about Princess Diana could threaten that opening, giving the Prince of Wales another reason to remain wary of his younger brother.
“I don’t buy this,” royal broadcaster Helena Chard told Fox News Digital. “Harry says [he and his family] relocated for so many different reasons, but the main reason is clear: it’s the reported planning of the Diana documentary for the 30th anniversary.”
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, sits in the stands during the Gallagher PREM 2026/2027 match between Leicester Tigers and Gloucester Rugby at Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium on Oct. 9, 2026, in Leicester, England
“This isn’t bridge building,” she said. “This is lobbing a grenade at Prince William’s feet. Prince William has said no to every Diana documentary offer. He doesn’t want to speak so openly about Diana. And also, doing this would just drain him if he was going to do it as a working royal. He doesn’t want to create publicity for Prince Harry’s documentary, and he also doesn’t want him and Harry pitted against each other as brothers.”
“Friends also say that next year is going to be tough enough,” Chard continued. “Prince William just wants to let his mother rest in peace. So, he’s likely going to want to do something privately. Enough is enough, he thinks.”
Diana, Princess of Wales, died in 1997. She was 36.(Tim Graham Photo Library
Fox News Digital reached out to Archewell and Kensington Palace for comment.
Several royal experts previously told Fox News Digital that the brothers have not been on speaking terms since 2022.
Prince William, left, is said to not be on speaking terms with his younger brother Prince Harry.(Mark Cuthbert/UK Press
The Times recently reported that the Prince of Wales will not make a film about Princess Diana to mark the 30th anniversary of his mother’s death in 2027, in part because he wants to avoid further conflict with Harry. According to the outlet, William has declined several offers to make or appear in documentaries about his mother.
Meanwhile, Harry is considering several projects to mark the 30th anniversary of Diana’s death, People magazine reported. According to the outlet, the Duke of Sussex has been exploring how he can “most meaningfully” honor his mother and her legacy ahead of the Aug. 31, 2027, anniversary.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, meets members of the public as he arrives at The Community Recording Studio in Nottingham, England, during a visit with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, on Oct. 15, 2026
Although several ideas are under discussion, People reported that no documentary has been finalized or confirmed. Harry has reached out to family members and friends connected to his late mother, several
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A William remains distant, with “no contact.”(Kirsty O’Connor – WPA Pool/
“If Harry wants reconciliation, can he not drop the film or give the proceeds to charity, which will change perception overnight?” Chard said. “I just don’t see healing. I see the ruffling of Prince William’s feathers. Prince William is entirely focused on his family and the long-term survival of the monarchy, but that’s not to say that things can’t change in the future.”
Prince Harry’s book “Spare” is displayed in a bookstore on Dec. 16, 2023, in Bath, England.(Matt Cardy/
People reported that tensions between the brothers deepened after Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020. The relationship further deteriorated following the couple’s 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, their 2022 Netflix docuseries, “Harry & Meghan,” and Harry’s bestselling memoir “Spare,” published in 2023. All three projects included personal revelations about life inside the royal family.
As father, King Charles, is “better,” the brothers have “no contact.”
Prince William, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex leave after escorting the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II to Westminster Hall from Buckingham Palace for her lying in state, on Sept. 14, 2022, in London. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex has since returned to the U.K.(Emilio Morenatti – WPA Pool/
“I thought it would have perhaps eased a little bit by now, to be honest. But there has been no movement, especially on William’s side,” a
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital he isn’t surprised by William’s apparent reluctance to reconcile with Harry.
Prince William, Prince of Wales, departs the Amos Bursary in Hoxton, London, on Oct. 14, 2026, after meeting scholars and alumni.(SOPA Images/LightRocket
“William deeply resents the way the Sussexes have monetized their royal connections,” he said. “The Sussexes, as non-working royals, have the advantage as they are in situ and can do what they like. This does not mean that they will be accepted by the royal family in any of their activities in the coming months. … [But] it may be impossible to totally shut them out, given the international pull of their brand.”
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Prince Harry, left, and Prince William attend the unveiling of a statue of their mother, Princess Diana, at The Sunken Garden in Kensington Palace, London on July 1, 2021, which would have been her 60th birthday.(Dominic Lipinski/POOL/AFP
The insider told People magazine that the Sussexes’ return to Britain could create more opportunities for the brothers to reconnect. Other members of the royal family, including Kate Middleton, could also encourage reconciliation, they reasoned.
“Catherine may step into that breach and try to help, too, because she knows how important family is and how important Harry is to William,” the This gives them [an] opportunity to try and mend that bridge.”
Prince William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales, visit The Commons, a project transforming a church into a self-sustaining community centre, during their visit to Northern Ireland on Oct. 9, 2026, in Belfast, Northern Ireland.(WireImage)
However, several royal experts previously told Fox News Digital that the Princess of Wales has reportedly shown no interest in being drawn into the brothers’ rift, preferring instead to focus on her family and supporting the monarchy.
Prince William did not meet with his estranged younger brother, Prince Harry, who spent time with their father, King Charles III, at Highgrove House, the monarch’s private residence on July 10, 2026.(Chris Jackson/
For William, the biggest obstacle to reconciliation is reportedly a lack of trust.
“While Harry might wish to reconcile, the consequences of his divulging private family grievances, as well as monetizing it all can never be undone,” British royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital. “… Reconciliation will become harder, if not impossible, upon William’s ascension to the throne.”
King Charles III delivers a speech during the ceremonial opening of the seventh Senedd in Cardiff, Wales, on Oct. 15, 2026.(The Welsh Parliament
Areconciling his sons. People reported that the monarch “welcomed the news of Harry’s return” after being informed of the family’s plans to return to the U.K. just days before they became public
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Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, departs from The Invictus Games Foundation Conversation: From Policy to Practice at Chatham House on July 7, 2026, in London.(Eamonn M. McCormack/
“He will want to see his sons together over time,” the in recent years. … It’s wonderful for the king to have his son home and to spend time with his grandchildren.”
Royal broadcaster Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital that the king could intervene by asking William to consider reconciliation. However, he warned that William “is too entrenched in his ways.”
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, attends the United For Freedom Gala at the Imperial War Museum in London on Oct. 1, 2026.(WireImage)
Whether or not Harry moves forward with a documentary honoring his mother’s legacy, another potential test of the brothers’ relationship could come during the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham, England.
Al Carns and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, play in a wheelchair rugby exhibition match during the Invictus 1 Year To Go event at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England. Birmingham will host the Invictus Games in July 2027.(Max Mumby/Indigo/
“The Invictus Games will be held in Birmingham in July,” Fitzwilliams said. “It is a fine military charity, and the king is head of the armed forces. What happens will be very important indeed. And next year does mark 30 years since Princess Diana’s tragic death. The way that it is commemorated could deepen the rift between the brothers, or it could mean a form of reconciliation takes place.”
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, poses for a selfie with well-wishers after a visit to Community Recording Studio in Nottingham, central England, on Sept. 9, 2025.(POOL/AFP
In a May 2025 interview with the BBC, Harry said he would “love reconciliation with my family.”
“There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore.”
