Royal biographer Omid Scobie has delivered a blunt assessment of the relationship between Prince William and Prince Harry, suggesting the brothers remain deeply estranged after years of tension.
The 44-year-old author- often labelled by critics as Meghan Markle’s “mouthpiece”- shared the update in an interview with People on Thursday, offering little hope that the royal rift is close to being resolved.
In 2023, Scobie told the publication that Harry, 41, was “still waiting for that moment of accountability from his brother- an opportunity to talk about many of the grievances that have built up to this point and be able to move on from that.”
Now, three years later, Scobie says little has shifted.
“Nothing has changed,” he said.Â
“The expectations and wants and wishes of Prince Harry are exactly the same as they were then- and none of them have been met.”
The fractured relationship between Harry, 41, and William, 43, has been widely documented since at least 2020, when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back from royal duties and relocated to the United States.
Scobie, who wrote the 2020 biography Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family, claimed that Harry has made “repeated attempts” to reconnect with his older brother, but to no avail.Â
“The ball has been in William’s court for some time now, and he’s chosen not just to knock it back, but to kick it in the other direction,” he said.
The author of the 2023 royal exposé Endgame also suggested the situation raises broader questions about William’s future role as monarch.
“I hate to bring this back to William’s role, but as a future king, you would think that one of the things he should be able to navigate easily is family,” Scobie said.
The remarks come as the journalist pushes back against claims he acts as “Meghan’s mouthpiece” while promoting his latest project, a young adult fiction novel titled Royal Spin.
In an interview with The Times, Scobie said he has grown weary of the label, which gained traction following the publication of Finding Freedom.
The nature of the author’s access to the Sussexes was heavily scrutinised when the biography was released, with critics pointing to its highly specific details, including Harry’s emoji habits and Meghan’s preferred hair-highlight shades, as evidence he had unusually close insight into the couple’s private lives.
However, Scobie rejected suggestions that he maintains any personal relationship with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
“Any reports that suggest that I am their friend, that I have a direct line to them, that I’ve received notes or calls from Meghan, are false,’ he said.
Scobie also insisted that Royal Spin is not based on the 44-year-old Duchess’ own experiences, despite inevitable comparisons.
The novel, written with Robin Benway, follows American PR strategist Lauren Morgan, who is recruited by Buckingham Palace to help repair the monarchy’s reputation.
According to the book’s synopsis, Lauren must navigate “a fortress of tradition, prickly aides, and rules that seem designed to trip her up”, while also contending with palace politics and personal distractions, including “the irresistibly charismatic Duke of Exeter, who is very much off-limits”.
“As Lauren battles culture clashes, palace politics, and two dangerously tempting men, she finally begins to carve out her place – and maybe even her own story,” the synopsis states.
Scobie acknowledged the story touches on themes similar to Markle’s own experience as an outsider entering the royal family.
“Obviously there’s a lot of Meghan’s experience as an outsider, but we didn’t want anyone to think this is Meghan,” he said.
“We tried so hard to make sure that there was nothing in common other than, you know, being American.”