Prince William Has Reportedly ‘Washed His Hands’ of Harry as Sussex Return Brings Fresh Royal Tensions
Prince William (seen here with Prince Harry in 2022) has “washed his hands” of his brother after Harry’s latest headline-making move, Kinsey Schofield said.Getty Images
Prince William has reportedly reached the point where he no longer wants to be drawn into the controversies surrounding his younger brother, Prince Harry, as the Sussexes’ return to Britain brings another wave of attention to the royal family.
Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield said William has “largely washed his hands of the situation,” arguing that the Prince of Wales is focused instead on his own family and responsibilities. Her comments came after Harry and Meghan Markle abruptly moved Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, to another school just days into the new term because of security concerns.
The school switch itself has been confirmed by the Sussexes. Their spokesperson said the decision followed discussions with the family’s security team about the “practicalities” of the existing arrangements. Reporting from multiple outlets indicates that the distance from the family’s home, heavy traffic and difficulty keeping their vehicle close to the security car were among the concerns.
William Reportedly Wants Firmer Boundaries
“He has his own family to protect and his responsibilities as Prince of Wales,” she said of William (above on Sept. 9).Getty Images
According to Schofield, the latest school controversy is part of a broader pattern that William does not want to become involved in.
She pointed to the attention surrounding Harry’s security dispute and questions over the Sussexes’ position within the monarchy, saying the royal family has spent years attempting to move beyond the continuing public narrative surrounding the couple.
Schofield said William, 44, believes “firmer boundaries” should have been established with Harry and Meghan much earlier and has little interest in responding every time a new grievance or controversy emerges.
That approach comes as William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, are dealing with changes of their own. Prince George, 13, has begun a new chapter at Eton, while William continues carrying out his duties as Prince of Wales.
Schofield characterized the contrast as one between William and Kate’s focus on stability for their children and the renewed attention generated by developments involving the Sussexes. That assessment is her interpretation rather than an official statement from William.
Separate reporting has similarly described William and Kate as concentrating on their family rather than engaging with the renewed Sussex attention.
Archie and Lilibet Moved After Just Two Days
The immediate trigger for the latest discussion was Harry and Meghan’s decision to change their children’s school.
Archie and Lilibet had started at a British prep school after the Sussex family relocated from California to the UK in late August. But after only two days, their parents decided the arrangement was not workable from a security perspective.
The Sussexes emphasized that the move was not a criticism of the school.
Their spokesperson said the parents remained grateful to the teachers and staff for the care shown to their children and stressed that the decision should not be interpreted negatively toward the institution.
The issue centered instead on the journey between home and school.
Reports indicate that heavy traffic sometimes separated the Sussex family’s vehicle from the car carrying their private security personnel. The repeated daily route and periods spent stationary in traffic were also considered potential vulnerabilities.
Archie and Lilibet have since begun attending another school.
Security Remains a Central Issue for the Sussexes
Harry (seen here in 2023) and Markle moved back to the UK last month.POOL/AFP via Getty Images
The change comes as Harry and Meghan’s security arrangements are undergoing renewed scrutiny following their move back to Britain.
The couple lost automatic taxpayer-funded police protection after stepping away from working royal duties in 2020. Their return to the UK has now prompted fresh risk assessments, with separate reviews being conducted for Harry and Meghan.
Harry has repeatedly argued that adequate security is essential if Britain is to become a home for his family again.
The school issue has now provided a practical example of those concerns: the Sussexes’ private security team reportedly concluded that the original daily commute could not be made sufficiently secure under the circumstances.
William and Harry Remain Estranged
The “Spare” author (seen here with Princess Lilibet) pulled his kids from their new school this week.Meghan Duchess of Sussex / Instagram
Despite Harry’s return to his home country, there is little public evidence that his relationship with William has improved.
The brothers have been estranged for years, and the source article reports that they remain out of contact following Harry’s return.
Markle and Harry (above) quietly moved from California last month.Meghan Duchess of Sussex / Instagram
Schofield suggested William’s attitude differs from that of King Charles III because Charles remains Harry’s father and therefore has an unavoidable emotional connection to him.
William, she argued, can take a more pragmatic position.
From William’s reported perspective, boundaries have already been established and Harry is now responsible for his own decisions and their consequences.
Harry, meanwhile, has publicly signaled an interest in repairing family relationships, particularly with his father. But his return has also reopened unresolved questions about his family’s place within royal life.
Harry and Meghan remain non-working members of the royal family, and their return to Britain does not restore the official roles they relinquished six years ago.
A Difficult Start to the Sussexes’ UK Return
Markle and Harry (seen here with Archie and Lilibet) made the move due to security concerns.Meghan Duchess of Sussex / Instagram
Harry and Meghan returned to Britain with Archie and Lilibet after six years based primarily in California. Their move was intended to allow the children to spend more time in the UK and brought the family physically closer to King Charles.
But their first weeks back have already involved significant logistical and security questions.
The children’s original school arrangement lasted only days, the couple’s security situation is under government review, and Harry’s relationship with William reportedly remains frozen.
Archie (seen here with Harry) and Lilibet were set to attend a ritzy UK private school.Meghan Duchess of Sussex / Instagram
For William, according to Schofield, the response is increasingly to keep his distance rather than become involved in each new development surrounding his brother.
Harry (seen here with Lilibet) and Markle reportedly enrolled their kids in a new school.Meghan Duchess of Sussex / Instagram
Whether that position changes as Harry and his family settle into life in Britain remains unclear. For now, the brothers appear to be navigating their lives in the same country while remaining personally far apart.
