Prince Harry is said to be watching Prince William’s royal rise from the sidelines — and insiders claim it is hitting him harder than anyone realizes.
The Duke of Sussex reportedly never expected his older brother to step so confidently into his future king role without him. But as William continues to grow more popular and polished in public, Harry is allegedly left feeling isolated, shut out, and regretful over the royal life he walked away from.
According to a Sussex source cited by former People and Us Weekly editor Dan Wakeford, Harry had quietly hoped William would struggle without him.
“He sees William blossoming, and he secretly had hoped that William would have more of a struggle and need him,” the insider claimed.
But that call has not come.
Instead, sources say William has only grown stronger inside the Firm, while Harry remains in California with Meghan Markle, far removed from the royal machine he once helped support.
One insider claimed Harry is still hoping for a path back.
“He’s been waiting for the call,” the source said. “That would be his dream come true. He regrets leaving.”
But according to Wakeford, the royal brothers are so estranged that Harry no longer even has William’s phone number.
“Harry doesn’t have his brother’s phone number,” Wakeford wrote in his Celebrity Intelligence newsletter. “At this stage, sources close to the Duke of Sussex confirm, even if he did, William wouldn’t pick up.”
The silence between them has reportedly stretched for nearly three years.
The last major public moment the brothers shared came in September 2022, after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. William and Kate Middleton joined Harry and Meghan for a walkabout outside Windsor Castle, where they greeted mourners and accepted flowers for the late monarch.
At the time, royal watchers hoped the queen’s death might bring the fractured family back together.
But that hope quickly faded.
Just months later, Harry and Meghan released their explosive Netflix docuseries. Then came Harry’s memoir Spare, which included deeply personal claims about William, Kate, King Charles, and life behind palace walls.
Royal insiders say William was particularly furious over the way Kate was portrayed in the book. Wakeford claimed Harry’s remarks about the Princess of Wales made William decide he was “done” with the drama.
Since then, sources say a virtual “firewall” has gone up around William, making it nearly impossible for Harry to reach him directly.
The brotherly bond that once made William and Harry one of the most beloved sibling duos in the world now appears colder than ever.
Still, not everyone inside royal circles has given up hope.
According to Wakeford, quiet efforts are reportedly underway behind the scenes to eventually bring the two princes back together. One possible moment being floated is the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham, an event close to Harry’s heart.
There is even said to be a newly appointed royal official who has made repairing the brothers’ relationship a personal mission.
But for now, Harry is said to be stuck waiting for a call that may never come — while William continues his climb toward the throne without him.
