Frustrations are said to have intensified following the Sussexes’ blending of business and charitable engagements during their recent trip to Australia.
Palace figures told us the tour is being seen as another example of the couple presenting themselves in a quasi-royal capacity despite no longer representing the Crown officially.
One source said: “Kate genuinely did everything she could over the years to give Meghan the benefit of the doubt, even after things between the households became incredibly strained. She has always been someone who prefers reconciliation over conflict and has never liked the idea of family divisions becoming permanent. People around her say she repeatedly encouraged calmer conversations behind the scenes and wanted to believe bridges could eventually be rebuilt.
“But there has been a noticeable shift recently because Kate feels worn down by what she sees as an endless cycle of attention-seeking behavior and carefully orchestrated public gestures. Like other members of the family, she is increasingly frustrated by the perception that Meghan continues to exploit royal connections while publicly distancing herself from the monarchy whenever it suits her narrative.”
The insider added: “One of the biggest sticking points for Kate is the belief that Meghan still trades heavily on her royal status while refusing to respect many of the traditions and responsibilities that come with it. From Kate’s perspective, being granted an HRH title is supposed to carry a sense of duty, restraint and respect for the institution above personal branding.
“Instead, there is a growing feeling inside palace circles that Meghan treats the title more like a commercial asset or personal trademark that can be rolled out whenever it benefits her image. That has become deeply uncomfortable for senior royals who believe there are certain standards of conduct attached to those privileges, whether someone remains a working royal or not.”
Harry last saw his father King Charles, 77, in September 2025 during a brief meeting reportedly lasting less than an hour.
Sources say the Duke of Sussex hopes his July return could pave the way for a more personal family reunion, including time for Charles to see Archie and Lilibet.
Yet insiders claim William remains firmly opposed to repairing relations with his younger brother after years of public criticism from the Sussexes in interviews, documentaries and Harry’s memoir Spare.