Prince Harry’s “Respectful” Move to Get Kate Middleton Back on His Side Could Be a Much-Needed Olive Branch

It’s no secret that Prince Harry and his brother, Prince William, aren’t exactly friends right now—even though Harry has moved back to the UK with his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. But Harry’s relationship with his sister-in-law, Catherine, Princess of Wales, has also come under serious strain amid the fallout.Kate and Harry were once super close, but they’ve not been seen together publicly since King Charles’ Coronation in May 2023. However, it now sounds as though Harry wants to make amends, with a source close to the Sussexes telling The Times that Harry is “mindful” of the King’s upcoming trip to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and the Prince and Princess of Wales’ expected visit to India, ensuring his own activities will not clash.“Obviously with the King going to CHOGM and the Prince and Princess of Wales going to India, he knows about those things and he is obviously mindful of that as he’s planning his own activities as well,” the source said.WPA Pool//Getty ImagesThe King is currently on a nine-day tour of the Caribbean, which will culminate at CHOGM. Meanwhile, the Earthshot Prize Awards are due to take place in Mumbai this month, and Prince William is confirmed to attend, but it is not yet clear whether Kate will join him. If she does go, it would be her first appearance at the Earthshot awards since 2022, and a likely focus of attention in its own right.The reported effort to avoid scheduling around major royal events comes after Harry’s GQ interview was published on the same day as the King’s ceremonial welcome for the Sultan of Oman, which raised some eyebrows. A Sussex spokesperson said the publication date was GQ’s decision and not Harry’s, but it sparked off a discussion around how the estranged prince can pull attention away from the working royals.Against that backdrop, the idea that he is factoring the King and the Waleses’ plans into his schedule could be read as a deliberate olive branch, giving off the vibe that Harry is trying to make space for his family, rather than compete with them for headlines.As for how Kate in particular features here, it’s reported that she was one of the go-betweens trying to keep the brothers close. In William & Catherine, royal editor Russell Myers wrote (per Marie Claire), “Whether counseling William or having a quiet word in Harry’s ear, she saw it as her duty to keep the two brothers on the same team, as did their senior aides.”Kate has also carved out a place in the royal calendar with her annual Together at Christmas carol concert, which brings together big names and people doing good in their communities. It’s one of the moments when the spotlight is firmly on her—so Harry reportedly keeping the Waleses’ plans in mind could be an especially meaningful gesture.