Prince Harry and Princess Kate were well-known to share a close friendship, but in recent years things have been more fractured. Amid Kate’s health challenges there’s been speculation they could reconcile

Prince Harry and Princess Kate were close for many years, with Harry even calling her “more sister than in-law,” and the “sister I’d never had and always wanted” in his memoir.

Although Kate officially joined the Royal Family back in 2011 upon her marriage to Prince William, her bond with Harry long predated that – with the pair first becoming friendly during the many years Kate and William dated after university.

In recent years, however, things have become more strained between the Sussexes and the Waleses, and since Harry and Meghan left life in the UK behind, the couple has been open about their grievances with the rest of the royals – and their aides.

Amid Kate’s health challenges, there has been hope from royal fans and some commentators that it might be possible for the two couples to reconcile after Harry and Meghan didn’t hesitate to issue a strong statement of support for Kate when she announced her cancer diagnosis.

When Kate announced that she had begun cancer treatment and appealed for privacy as she focussed on her recovery, the Sussexes quickly echoed her sentiments in an official statement. “We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace,” the couple said.

Harry and Meghan were also reported to have “reached out” to Kate privately after learning the emotional news. However, it remains to be seen whether the health challenges will be enough to bring the once-close Harry and Kate back into more friendly territory.

With Harry due to return to the UK to celebrate 10 years of the Invictus Games, there has been much speculation about whether or not he would take the time to see Kate while he is visiting.

It’s looking incredibly unlikely, as The Mirror’s Royal Editor Russel Myers revealed last week that Harry will not meet up with his estranged brother. An insider said: “Their relationship remains extremely fractured. Harry has privately expressed a wish to sit down with his brother but now is not the time.”

Royal expert Ingrid Seward also explained that in her view, the timing of any reconciliation between the royals is crucial and that Kate would only agree to meet her brother-in-law under one condition.

“William has enough going on and doesn’t need the stress. But he might realise Harry will want to see Kate after her cancer diagnosis as they were once so close. It remains to be seen if Kate is willing and able to face up to it. Does she have the energy to begin to try and heal the rift between the brothers or will she prefer to remain in the background?” the expert explained.

“If the King asks, she will do it, but Charles being the sensitive and understanding soul he is, would be unlikely to ask such a favour from his adored daughter-in-law. The time must be right, and it is not right now.”

In his memoir, Spare, Harry detailed the breakdown of his relationship with William and Kate and even dived into the now-infamous bridesmaid dress fitting before his 2018 wedding to Meghan, which left his wife in tears. According to Harry, the two couples got together after the big day and had a sit down in an attempt to reconcile their differences.

Kate then allegedly admitted that her feelings had been seriously hurt when Meghan referred to her as having “baby brain”. Meghan swiftly apologised, but William jumped to defend his wife, and, Harry alleged, called his sister-in-law “rude” and pointed at her.

“None of this airing of grievances was doing us any good, I felt. We weren’t getting anywhere. Kate looked out into the garden, gripping the edges of the leather [seat] so tightly that her fingers were white,” Harry wrote in his memoir, before describing that eventually the two couples “kind of” reached a truce.