Prince Harry could become a major challenge for Prince William when he becomes King, royal commentator Roya Nikkhah warned, as the brothers' long-running rift shows little sign of ending. The warning came during a discussion about Harry's recent call for family peace and the pressure William may face as future monarch.
The comments followed Harry's October 2026 interview with GQ, in which the Duke of Sussex said he wanted to repair his relationships with William and King Charles III. Although Harry has spoken openly about wanting to move past old disputes, the brothers' relationship remains strained.
William Faces A Family Rift
Royal editor Roya Nikkhah discussed the brothers' dispute on a recent episode of The Royals podcast with The Times journalist Jeremy Griffin. Nikkhah said William may find it hard to forgive Harry and Meghan for stepping away from royal duties in 2020.
She said the decision placed extra pressure on William and his family as he continued preparing for his future role as King. Her comments reflect what she claimed she had been told about William's feelings, rather than a public statement from the Prince of Wales himself.
Harry and Meghan announced in January 2020 that they planned to step back as senior working royals and work towards financial independence. The couple later settled in California, while William continued his royal duties alongside Catherine, Princess of Wales.
Harry Could Become William's Andrew
During the same discussion, Griffin warned that the unresolved family dispute could create problems for William's future reign. He said: 'My fear for William and his reign is that Harry will become his Andrew,' comparing the brothers' situation with the challenges linked to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and King Charles III during their adult years.
Griffin's opinion only suggested a similar familial tension for the two brothers with Andrew and King Charles III, not a statement that Harry had done anything similar to Andrew, who was stripped of his royal styles and honors after being linked to sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein's operations. Griffin raised concerns about the effect a lasting family dispute could have on William as King.
Griffin added that the brothers should try to repair their relationship, especially if Harry wanted to reconnect with William as a brother rather than return to official royal duties. He argued that family peace should not depend on Harry and Meghan becoming working royals again.
Harry Calls for Family Peace
Harry spoke about his strained family relationships in an interview with GQ published on 20 October 2026. When asked about his relationship with William and Charles, he said the situation was painful but that he still hoped they could move forward.
'Some people don't want it to work out. I want it to work out,' Harry said. He also stressed the importance of making peace, adding: 'With everything else that's going on in the world, the most important thing is to reconcile.'
The duke also spoke about how family disputes affect many people, not just members of the Royal Family. He said that although the past can leave lasting scars, people should try to let go of old pain when they can.
William And Harry Remain Apart
Harry and Meghan stepped back from their royal roles in 2020, and the move was followed by years of public tension between the couple and other members of the Royal Family. Harry's memoir, Spare, and the couple's interviews about their experiences brought more attention to the family dispute.
In August 2026, Harry and Meghan returned to the UK with their children, bringing fresh attention to the possibility of a family reunion. However, their return has not confirmed that Harry and William have resolved their differences.
A report published in August quoted a family friend as saying William found it painful to feel let down by his brother. The report also suggested that the Prince of Wales was not ready to put the dispute behind him, although his private views have not been fully confirmed.
Reconciliation Remains Uncertain
The warning about Harry becoming William's 'Andrew' comes as the future King faces questions about whether he will try to repair the relationship. Griffin argued that rebuilding the brothers' bond could help avoid a long-running family dispute becoming a problem during William's reign.
However, a reunion would likely require both brothers to agree on what repairing their relationship should mean. Harry's comments suggest he wants to move forward, but there has been no public confirmation that William is ready to take the same step.
For now, the comparison remains a commentator's warning about a possible future challenge, rather than a sign that a new family agreement is near. Whether the brothers can rebuild trust away from public attention remains an open question.
