Prince William warned that royal rift could damage the future of monarchy

In a direct challenge to the future King, royal historian Tessa Dunlop has warned that Prince William’s inability to reconcile with Prince Harry could jeopardise the very stability of the British monarchy.

Writing in The i Paper, Dunlop suggests that while William looks to the late Queen Elizabeth II as his blueprint for leadership, he risks losing that "unifying" status if he cannot overcome his personal grievances.

The historian argues that as a future Defender of the Faith, "Forgiveness, after all, is an essential prerequisite."

She notes that for William to truly modernise the institution and halt its decline in popularity, he must move past the "baggage" of the previous generation. 

"To have any chance of halting the Royal Family’s decline, 'Willy' needs to set aside his differences and offer 'Harold' an olive branch," she asserts.

Dunlop acknowledges the immense difficulty of such a gesture, admitting that "siblings can be hugely triggering" and that a peace offering would likely cause the Prince of Wales "great pain."

However, she believes the rewards would be transformative, potentially branding William as a "redemptive Prince" capable of appealing to a younger, more cynical generation.

Despite the potential gains for the Crown, the expert remains pessimistic about a reunion, concluding that such a prospect remains a "pipe dream."