Everywhere you look, coronation madness is starting to take over the UK, but there are a couple of people not looking forward to the historical event. After finally confirming his attendance for his dad’s big day, Prince Harry’s told friends he’s dreading seeing his estranged family – particular his big brother Prince William. But he may not have to worry after all, as we’re told the Prince of Wales is hoping to avoid his little bro altogether, as he tells royal insiders he has no time for – or interest in – peace talks.

Harry’s coming to the coronation with such a heavy heart,’ says an insider close to the 38-year-old, who fell out with his family in 2020 after quitting royal duties and moving to California with his wife, Meghan Markle. ‘He’s talking a good game about going back to England with his head held high, but in reality he’s very nervous and panicking about facing all those people who don’t want him there. It’s a horrible feeling knowing the eyes of the world will be watching his every move, analysing his body language and reviewing how he’s received by the other royals. And that’s even before you consider the misery of being iced out and rejected by everyone in the family. Even if he does get face time with his father, Harry knows Camilla and all the courtiers will be right there, watching him like a hawk and listening to everything they say to one another. It’s going to be so awkward and difficult.’

Closer recently revealed how the palace had released a statement revealing they were ‘pleased to confirm’ the Duke of Sussex would be attending King Charles III’s coronation on Saturday 6 May. They also confirmed Meghan, 41, ‘will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet’, where she’ll be celebrating Archie’s 4th birthday as Grandpa gets crowned. Within days, multiple reports revealed many of the royals weren’t happy with the RSVP, with one source claiming the family had ‘no interest’ in seeing or speaking to Harry at the event, ‘beyond the most basic of greetings’. It was later revealed that the former third-in-line had held peace talks with the palace before agreeing to attend, with ‘positive conversations’ reportedly held between father and son. But sources added that Harry made no such attempt with William, 40. In fact, royal expert Kinsey Schofield told Fox News last week, ‘We know that palace staff is planning every entry, exit, and seat with the battling brothers in mind. The palace’s ultimate objective is to avoid conflict. William, without a doubt, was the most hurt by Harry’s actions. The two have not spoken since the queen’s funeral.’ Another royal commentator, Richard Fitzwilliams added, ‘There is no doubt that relations between William and Harry are at an all-time low. They reportedly are not communicating and are unlikely to be seated near each other at Westminster Abbey.’

It follows years of tension between the once-close brothers, who fell out after Harry met former Suits actress Meghan back in 2016. In Harry’s shocking tell-all memoir, Spare he detailed the breakdown in their relationship after William called his new wife, ‘difficult’, ‘rude’ and ‘abrasive.’ He also described an alleged physical fight, where Harry was left bleeding after landing in a dog’s bowl ‘which cracked under my back, the pieces cutting into me.’ The pair were last seen together at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, where they walked together behind the coffin – albeit awkwardly. As Closer has previously reported, things have gotten even worse since the release of Netflix docu-series, Harry & Meghan, followed closely by Spare in January along with a TV blitz of interviews where Harry continued to lay into the royals – and his brother in particular. Just weeks later, the Sussexes confirmed they’d been evicted from their UK residence, Frogmore Cottage – apparently in retaliation – with the keys to be handed back to the palace this autumn.

Closer’s insider continues, ‘William is still furious over everything that’s happened and sees Harry as an ingrate. He’s going to take a lot of persuading before he has anything to do with him and it’s unlikely to be any time soon. Everyone is going to be so busy over the coronation weekend, and Harry’s planning such a short visit, William is hoping to avoid him altogether. Their father will also be too busy to make time for any one-on-ones, and everyone knows Queen Camilla and Princess Anne are totally against Harry being there at all. Even a lot of his UK friends are avoiding him like the plague after all the drama. It’s going to be a lonely visit for Harry.’

And sources say the duke is disappointed his wife couldn’t be there to support him through it. We’re told, ‘Harry desperately wanted Meghan by his side for this and feels guilty for leaving her behind in California, but she completely refused to come. She told him he’s on his own and she’s done with the poison of his family. She’s quite happy to be building her own life, 5000 miles away, avoiding the in-laws who have treated her like dirt from day one. On the one hand, Harry’s pleased Meghan won’t have to suffer through any of the awful tension he’s facing. He knows it would have been way worse for her, given how much hostility and resentment still gets hurled in her direction. But he’s also dreading going solo. It’s an extremely lonely and daunting prospect and he’s not even involved in any of the ceremonies. He won’t be allowed anywhere near the balcony with the rest of the family; he’s being excluded from the top table at any banquet or function he’s invited to, and he knows full well all his relations are planning to avoid him. At the end of the day, he’ll make the best of things, but the likelihood is that he’ll be jetting in very quickly, keeping his visit as low key as possible, before returning to the US as soon as he can. It’ll be a wretched scenario for Harry; exhausting, both physically and emotionally, but he wants to be there. The truth is – whatever Harry says – he’s desperate for acceptance in the UK. He knows he’s not going to get it on this visit – he’s more likely to get boos than cheers – but he’s hoping this could be a step in the right direction…’