Once, Prince William and Prince Harry appeared inseparable, seemingly bound by a brotherly bond that nothing could break. However, relations between the two have now reached a breaking point, with no communication between the brothers as their bitter feud continues. According to a recent book, there were attempts to mend the rift early on, particularly when Harry and Meghan Markle’s struggles with royal life became evident. However, a heart-to-heart meeting never materialized after Harry rejected it with a blunt two-word response.
The first hint of a feud came in 2019 when Harry, during an interview on his and Meghan’s tour of South Africa, confessed to feeling the pressures of royal life. Speaking with ITV’s Tom Bradby, Harry acknowledged that his bond with William was experiencing both “good days” and “bad days,” raising questions about their relationship.
In the book Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, author Valentine Low reveals that after the interview aired, William reached out to his younger brother via WhatsApp, suggesting they meet. Initially, Harry was open to the idea, but his concerns about leaks to the press caused him to back out. William explained that clearing his schedule would involve informing his private secretary, which prompted Harry to respond, “Don’t come.”
This failed attempt to reconnect was reportedly heartbreaking for those close to the brothers, highlighting how difficult direct communication within the royal family had become amid intense media scrutiny.
The fallout between William and Harry is said to have begun before Harry’s wedding to Meghan, with Harry accusing William of being dismissive of his bride. Tensions escalated after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, when Harry made public accusations against William in both his memoir, Spare, and his Netflix documentary. In Spare, Harry claimed that William physically attacked him during a heated argument over Meghan, pushing him into a dog bowl.
Further strain was added in the Netflix series, where Harry and Meghan alleged that Kensington Palace had lied to protect William by issuing a statement denying that he had bullied Harry out of the royal family. In another emotional revelation from Spare, Harry recounted a tense meeting at Windsor after the funeral of Prince Philip, during which King Charles pleaded with his sons: “Please, boys. Don’t make my final years a misery.”