Princess Catherine Has Stopped Playing Peacemaker With Harry and Meghan — Sources Say Her Patience Finally Ran Out

Princess Catherine has been part of Prince William's life for nearly 25 years. Amid Prince William and Prince Harry's fallout and alleged tension with Meghan Markle, she has often played the role of "peacemaker" in the family. But now, it looks like Catherine is taking another route.

The princess has known Prince Harry for the same period, having entered the family's orbit in the early 2000s. After Harry's revealing memoir, Spare was published and his interview with Markle on Oprah aired, it was reported that the brothers had stopped communicating. Both parties have allegedly made attempts to maintain peace over the years, with Princess Kate said to have played a major role as a peacemaker in the early years, per Marie Claire.

Amid the controversy surrounding theirrecent Australia trip, the Sussexes are set to return to the UK in July for an event associated with the Invictus Games. This will mark Meghan's first trip to Britain in four years, according to RadarOnline.

The visit comes amid ongoing family tensions, including a brief meeting between Harry and King Charles last September and his aspiration to reconnect with the royals.

According to the publication, Middleton has changed her peacemaker stance amid Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's slew of controversies, especially their Australia trip. Amid the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's tour, Prince William and Princess Catherine made no public comment during the Sussexes' Australia tour, according to reports. Many reports have claimed that the couple is trying to convey a strong message with their lack of public presence.

A royal family insider described how Catherine's approach has shifted in recent months, saying, "Catherine has, for a long time, made a conscious effort to approach Meghan with patience and understanding, even when their relationship has been strained. She's naturally someone who leans toward forgiveness rather than conflict, and she's always tried to give people the benefit of the doubt, particularly within the family."

"There's a growing sense that her goodwill has been tested too many times," the insider said.

The insider said that the situation with the Sussexes can't be fixed anymore. "From Catherine's perspective, certain actions – especially those that appear to blur the lines between royal status and commercial gain – feel inappropriate and out of step with the standards the rest of the family is expected to uphold. It left her feeling that the situation can't just be smoothed over anymore, and that a firmer stance is necessary. She has essentially moved from a peacekeeper to the role of a more hard-headed future queen."

According to a palace aide, Catherine views the couple's actions as "exploiting their royal titles for commercial gain." They said, "Meghan's latest moves – particularly her and Harry's so-called 'faux royal tour' of Australia, where they mixed paid speaking events with visits to hospital patients – have forced Catherine to take a firmer line. It's being seen as a response to repeated provocations. There's a feeling that enough is enough, and that she is sick of the Sussexes exploiting their royal titles for commercial gain."

According to The Telegraph, Kate was reported to be "optimistic about a reconciliation" before the couple's Oprah interview, with a source telling the publication, "She is definitely someone who avoids conflict and will be looking to ease the tensions." The change in approach signals a new chapter in Catherine's relationship with the Sussexes, according to sources.