Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, a former private secretary to both Prince Harry and Prince William, sidestepped a question about their estrangement—calling the “Harry issue” too sensitive—while noting he remains “very fond” of Harry.
Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton has seen the inner workings of the Sussexes and the Cambridges up close. But when asked about the ongoing rift between Prince Harry and Prince William, the former private secretary chose a careful path—one that kept him out of the middle.
During an interview, Lowther-Pinkerton was questioned about the brother’s estrangement after working for both of them. When the conversation turned to Harry and William, he told The Times: “Do you know what? I’d better steer clear of that Harry issue.”
He didn’t leave it there. Lowther-Pinkerton added, “What I would say is that I was and am very fond of him. He has huge redeeming features and I’m a perennial optimist.” The exchange captured how charged the situation remains—sensitive enough that even someone who served both brothers would rather not pick a side in public.
For Harry, though, the calendar is narrowing. He is expected to travel to England in July with Meghan Markle and their two children. Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Even with the trip planned. it’s unlikely he’ll see the Prince of Wales or their cousins. a gap that has only sharpened the sense of separation between the families.
Royal expert Emily Nash described the relationship in blunt terms: “I think, fundamentally, you have two brothers here who were not speaking to one another.” She added that this is “the key relationship that needs to be resolved, really, before anything else can happen.”
The rift deepened after Harry and Meghan exited The Firm in 2020. Relations with Prince William, King Charles III, and the rest of the family soured following her public condemnation of the monarchy.
William’s posture has also been framed as unusually firm. Royal commentator Amanda Matta told Page Six. “William has been the holdout for years. viewing Harry’s betrayal as unforgivable.” Matta said William is “seeking to project strength and leadership these days. ” and that this has resulted in press briefings that he has opposed—starting with the king’s handling of emotionally charged issues like Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and now extending to Harry’s potential return.
Still, the question of reconciliation hasn’t gone away. Although it’s considered unlikely the siblings will bury the hatchet in the near future, Harry is reportedly trying to win back his relatives’ good graces.
An insider told People that the effort isn’t about forcing closure. “They’re not approaching it with the expectation of a quick resolution. It’s about taking small, manageable steps and seeing where things land,” the insider said. The same source added, “This remains very important to Harry, with Meghan supportive.”.
In the meantime, the brotherhood that once felt constant is now defined by silence—and by the way even close insiders like Lowther-Pinkerton choose their words when the “Harry issue” comes up.
Prince Harry Prince William Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton Meghan Markle Archie Lilibet royal rift estrangement The Times Page Six People