Jetting off to the sun-soaked and picturesque Caribbean island of Mustique for the half term holidays earlier this month, Kate Middleton and Prince William enjoyed a well-deserved rest – free from the eyes of the world and royal duty for one blissful week.
However, their family getaway to the celebrity hotspot with their children – Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six, alongside Kate’s mum Carole Middleton – wasn’t without surprises, as sources tell us that the Wales’ were joined by estranged royal Prince Harry.
The shock move is believed to have been orchestrated by Kate, who our insider says has ‘desperately missed’ her brother-in-law and is pulling out all the stops to reconcile.
The source says, ‘Kate reached out to Harry a couple of months ago when they were discussing his upcoming trip to the UK, and told him their plans to go to Mustique over half term.
‘She said it might be a good opportunity for him to see her, William and the children and have some privacy away from prying eyes every time he’s in the UK.
‘Harry agreed but didn’t confirm he was flying out until he was in Canada for the Invictus Games, so it was all very last minute. He flew in for a hurried visit and stayed at a friend’s villa close to where Kate and William were staying.’
Kate, 43, and William, 42, reportedly flew out to the ultra-private paradise on February 13, and our source says Harry joined them after the closing ceremony for the Invictus Games in Vancouver, Canada, on February 16.
Both the Waleses’ and the Sussexes’ representatives declined to comment, however, an insider within Harry’s tight-knit circle sparked a mystery after telling Closer that the meeting had not happened and insisted that Harry had gone straight home to California after the Games.
During the ceremony, Harry, 40, surprised attendees when he announced that the 2027 Games will be held in Birmingham, despite his on-going battle with the UK Home Office over his security concerns.
And with Meghan flying home to California earlier in the week to continue working on her brand launch and the promotion for her upcoming Netflix series, the source says Harry was ready to mutually extend an olive branch.
They say, ‘Kate invited him over for lunch the day after he arrived and while he seemed very on-edge at first, he loosened up after playing around with the children and he ended up staying into the evening.
‘Kate hoped that this would be an opportunity for them all to really talk and try to get some resolve after years of fighting.
'William was frosty the entire time and didn’t really engage, but Kate was quite tearful at points – it made her realise how she’d desperately missed Harry and how sad it was they’re all living totally separate lives now.’
Harry and Meghan, who have now settled in the exclusive enclave of Montecito with their two children – Archie, five, and Lilibet, three – first stepped down from royal duty and left in the UK in 2020.
However, the tirade of accusations they have levelled against the royals through several interviews, their Netflix series, Harry & Meghan, and Harry’s 2023 memoir, Spare, since their departure has led the Royal Family to all but completely wash their hands of them – both publicly and reportedly in private, too, with Prince William and King Charles said to actively avoid Harry when he visits the UK.
The last time Harry was in the same room as William was in August at their uncle Lord Robert Fellowes’ memorial service, but the brothers are said not to have spoken since the late Queen’s funeral in 2022.
Last week, former royal aide Jason Knauf, who has been labelled the ‘ultimate Sussex Survivor’, described the brothers’ fallout as ‘hard’ and ‘sad’ amid reports William is still ‘furious’ over Harry’s actions.
But our source adds, ‘Kate did her best to try to get them talking, but it was clear that William wasn’t interested and was incredibly guarded amid his lack of trust for his brother.
‘Kate is desperate for the brothers to make peace and find a way that Harry can come back into the fold.
‘Harry thought the privacy of Mustique would be perfect, but he felt knocked back by William’s response when he flew back to the US.’
However, the source says that Kate, who announced she was cancer free in January, will do anything in her power to heal the toxic and incredibly sad rift for good – even if it means causing tension between her and William.
The insider says, ‘Kate was a little more subdued when Harry left - making it clear how torn she felt between wanting to reconcile with Harry and being happy he came and of course, her loyalty and love for William.
‘After Harry’s visit she told William that ‘enough is enough’ and that he really has to try to work towards forgiving his brother. If the last year has taught her anything, it’s that life is too short.'