William, Kate To Stay With Harry, Meghan During US Visit? Why Expert Says It's 'Unlikely'

Royal fans hoping to see Kate Middleton and Prince William reunite with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in the United States next year may have to prepare to be disappointed, a royal expert has suggested.

Prince William confirmed during the inaugural Earthshot Prize ceremony in London in October that his environmental initiative will hold its second annual awards ceremony in the U.S. in 2022. This would be the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's first trip to the U.S. since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back as senior working members of the royal family and left the U.K. for the former actress' native country.

British journalist Jonathan Sacerdoti, a commentator on Sky News and contributor of The Spectator, told Us Weekly that he believes it is "somewhat unlikely" that the future king and queen consort will stay with Prince Harry and Markle at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's mansion in Montecito, California, during their visit.

He explained why a reunion for the "Fab Four" may not work regardless of whether or not Prince Harry and Markle extend an invitation to his brother and Duchess Kate to stay at their home.

"It's like so many of these things — it's a sort of lose-lose situation," Sacerdoti told the outlet earlier this week. "If they get invited and they decline, it seems petty and nasty. And if they don’t get invited, it seems petty and nasty from the other side. And if they do accept such an invitation and something goes terribly wrong, that seems like a bad idea. I can’t quite see how this would work."

Their upcoming visit to the U.S. will be the first time that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have returned to the country since 2014. Prince William and Middleton, both 39, were last in the country for a brief official visit to New York.

Prince Harry, 37, and Markle, 40, relocated to California in March 2020 after carrying out their final engagement as senior members of the royal family.

During their final engagement together, they made headlines due to Prince William and Middleton's alleged "frosty treatment" of the Sussexes at the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in London. The four royals have not publicly reunited since then.

Prince Harry flew to his home country in April for Prince Philip's funeral sans his wife, who was heavily pregnant with their second child Lilibet, now 5 months. He was photographed chatting with his older brother and sister-in-law after the service, delighting royal fans who missed seeing Prince William, Middleton and Prince Harry together. However, Markle hasn't returned to the U.K. since their royal exit.

Prince Harry made another brief solo visit home in July to unveil a statue of his late mother, Princess Diana, alongside Prince William.

At the time, an unnamed source told Us Weekly that tensions between the two duchesses have eased as they bonded over having daughters. Middleton sent Markle a gift for Lili, and they exchanged texts following the baby girl's arrival, according to the insider.

Markle and Prince Harry are also parents to son Archie, 2. Middleton and Prince William share three kids, Prince George, 8, Princess Charlotte, 6, and Prince Louis, 3.

However, "Finding Freedom" author Omid Scobie told Entertainment Tonight in September that there is still "distance" between the brothers.

"[There are] still feelings of anger [about] the way the couple carried out their departure from their royal lives," he added, noting that Prince William "has not been able to come to terms with [it] yet."

It remains unknown which city the second annual Earthshot Prize ceremony will be held and where Prince William and Middleton will stay during their U.S. visit. A Kensington Palace spokesperson previously told People that further details about the couple's travel plans will be announced in due course.