For years now, the relations between the royal figures of British soil have been treading on glass floors, especially with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after their quitting as working royals. The strings of controversy which often recur as a never-ending loop between the royal household and the Sussex couple have also been the reasons behind both opting to maintain distance. However, with King Charles falling back on his deteriorating health conditions after the cancer diagnosis, a ray of hope peeked for a royal union between Prince William, the royal family, and Prince Harry with the latter’s plans to visit the UK. 

Yet, no such kind of events took place between the estranged brothers despite the Sussex Prince’s presence in the county, making space for criticism. 

Why was there no royal reunion for the Princes?

After the King’s diagnosis, Prince Harry was believed to have reached out to his brother ahead of his visit to the UK. However, a palace source said at the time of his visit that they had no plans to unite, ultimately concluding in no encounter. Pressing on how it should have been a “normal run of things” on the Prince’s part to visit his brother’s family amidst Kate Middleton’s deteriorating health as well, a source of the royal household admitted to PEOPLE regarding the turn of events as “terribly sad”.

The comments came in close after the Duke of Sussex made no appearance at his brother’s, despite his stay in the county for 24 hours. A former courtier explained that Prince William’s “principal concern is his wife” who just underwent abdominal surgery and Prince Harry not meeting her despite being there in the UK for 24 hours is termed as something not “normal” by the close source. 

Although this crucial family union missed out on the chance of a brotherly reconciliation, another absence also did not slip the mentions.

Who else did not show up for the royal union in the UK?

In an unfortunate turn of events last month, as the King was preparing to undergo surgery for prostate enlargement, the news came in of the King’s sudden cancer developments. Wasting little time, the Prince was readily packing his bags to be present beside his ailing father but Meghan Markle did not tag along for this trip back to the UK. Markle, who reportedly stayed back in the States, had a good reason for the same as a mother of two, she had to look after Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Despite her missing out on this crucial moment of union, there was large speculation that the estranged brothers might unite given the troubling circumstances. The possibility weighed heavily since the King personally informed both of them. While that truce did not take place and only ended up in critics’ eyes, Markle’s missing out on the trip also did not flare well, resulting in similar reactions.

What do you think of Prince Harry and Prince William’s missing encounter making space for criticism? Let us know in the comments below!