Rift between Prince William, Prince Harry ‘very bad’, but not ‘irreparable’: Royal insider

Even as Prince Harry's attempts to reconnect with his father, King Charles, and brother, Prince William, have been futile, a royal insider believes there is still hope of mending relations.

Sources exclusively told PEOPLE that Prince Harry's calls and letters to his father go unanswered, and his attempts to connect with Prince William are also ignored.

However, the royal insider who called the rift between the brothers “very bad”, said it’s not “irreparable”.

In a rare comment for a former royal aide to both brothers, Jason Knauf said the ongoing rift between William and Harry has been “hard and sad” for those who know both of them.

In an interview with 60 Minutes Australia, Knauf, who previously worked as a communications secretary for royal brothers and their wives – Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, said, “They achieved a lot together, and none of that can ever be taken away.”

Knauf stepped down from the royal household at the end of 2021 but continues to be on the board of trustees for Prince William's Earthshot Prize.

“It's very difficult to have this stuff play out in the public eye, but [William]'s chosen to keep his thoughts on it private, and I think all of us who know him really have to respect that we should do the same,” he added.

Of Harry and Meghan, Knauf said, “I worked really closely with the two of them, and we had lots of great times,” highlighting the “amazing, magical experience” of their 2018 wedding.

Reports suggest that the rift between the Prince of Wales, 42, and the Duke of Sussex, 40, began in 2016 when William voiced concerns over the rapid pace of Harry's relationship with Meghan. The divide became public in 2020 when Harry and Meghan chose to step back from their royal duties.