The Prince of Wales has taken a significant step in managing his public duties by hiring a specialist in crisis communications, a move royal commentators believe is closely linked to the ongoing tensions with his brother, the Duke of Sussex.
A Strategic Appointment for the Future King
Prince William has brought on board Liza Ravenscroft, a crisis management expert, to handle public relations for himself and the Princess of Wales. Officially, the new hire is described as acting in a "non-crisis" capacity. However, her professional biography states she works "arm in arm with big names facing their toughest times," aiding clients to navigate issues swiftly with "minimum dents." This appointment, made public in January 2026, has sparked intense speculation about what specific challenges the future King anticipates.
Royal author Dr. Tessa Dunlop, writing for the Independent, suggests the most prominent issue on the horizon is William's fractured relationship with Prince Harry. This comes amid reports that Harry is poised to have his taxpayer-funded police protection officially reinstated for UK visits. The Duke of Sussex waged a lengthy and costly legal battle with the Home Office over this very issue.
The Looming Prospect of a Sussex Return
Should Prince Harry's security be automatically restored, it could pave the way for more frequent returns to Britain. This would likely include his wife, Meghan, and their children: six-year-old Prince Archie and four-year-old Princess Lilibet. Such visits would place the brothers' rift under an even more intense public spotlight.
Dr. Dunlop notes that while King Charles is keen to bridge the gap with his younger son, Prince William is reportedly far less convinced that a reconciliation is advisable or imminent. The expert highlights William's independent streak, citing an instance where he procured his own helicopter to travel with Prince George after the Palace refused to provide one due to protocol.
"How do you make England’s untouchable heir-to-the-throne do something he doesn’t want to do?" Dunlop wrote, positing that a key task for Ravenscroft might be to encourage the Prince of Wales to adopt a more conciliatory stance towards Harry—something he is currently said to be "categorically uninterested" in.
Title Stripping Speculation Dismissed
Despite the deep frost in the relationship, some dramatic predictions about William's future actions have been downplayed. Speculation that William might, upon becoming King, follow a path similar to his father and strip Harry and Meghan of their Duke and Duchess titles has been called "way off the mark" by royal commentator Afua Acheampong-Hagan.
She explained to the Mirror that William is not considered "petty" and would shrewdly understand the negative perception. "I don't think he's got time to do that, and, also, he doesn't want that to be the focus of his reign when it comes," Acheampong-Hagan stated. She added that such an act would seem "silly and petty" amidst the wider modernisation challenges facing the monarchy.
Dr. Dunlop concluded that with the controversy surrounding Prince Andrew having cast the Sussexes in a "more benign light," the prospect of their return leaves William somewhat "exposed." As the royal expert framed it: "Harry and his family's return spells potential trouble ahead for rigid William." The question remains how long the heir to the throne can maintain his current stance against a sibling rapprochement.
