Prince William's 'Softening' Old 'Grudges': Kate Middleton Credited With Helping Tilt Future King Toward Prince Harry Birthday Greeting

After a year of "physical and emotional h--- on earth," Catherine, Princess of Wales, is now cancer-free and is credited with helping the "softening" of Prince William's "grudges" from years past.

"My gut feeling is that Catherine was influential in this slight softening of her husband's implacable stand," veteran royal reporter Jennie Bond shared.

"In the film she made about the end of her chemotherapy, she told how cancer had given her a new perspective," she added. "What clearly matters to her more now is family, loving, and being loved. Perhaps she has persuaded William that life is too short for grudges."

After nearly two years of reported no contact between the two embattled royal brothers, the Prince of Wales wished the Duke of Sussex a happy 40th birthday via social media on Sunday, September 15. No further well-wishes or communication have developed from the sender or receiver since then. Amid a flurry of reactions after the message appeared out of nowhere and unexpectedly, Bond cautions against those jumping to conclusions.

"Birthday wishes posted on the main royal family website are also a sign of a possible thaw in relations between Harry and his father," the expert observed. "But this is only a tentative first step in a complex and sensitive situation. I still think the brothers’ relationship is almost irretrievable."

One royal insider feels that the message, which did not happen in 2022 or 2023, nor did Harry wish William a happy 40th in June 2022, was likely due to the California transplant's big say being a milestone.

"When His Majesty came to the throne, he changed rules stating that only senior working royals get social media congratulatory messages. But this was a milestone for Harry, and formality changes then. Why on earth would they wish him a random happy birthday but totally ignore the Sussex children's birthdays year after year?" they said.

Despite the toxicity, some analysts feel that the monarchy must get back to leading by example, and "petty feuds" do not fit that bill.

"William has so much on his plate that I don’t think he has time to deal with Harry," Bond continued. "But first steps matter. And though the brothers may never be close again, it doesn’t mean the future has to be full of bad blood. Catherine is right. Family should always be paramount."

This follows the Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex's "no contact reunion" at their uncle's memorial service on August 29. William and Harry mingled near one another at the event, but multiple sources and onlookers confirm they refused to even look at one another.

InStyle reported on the expert revelations.