Tensions within the royal family have been brewing for years. Take a look at the familial rift and the shocking reasons why Prince William and Princess Kate would not welcome Prince Harry and Meghan Markle back into the royal fold.
The British royal family was once seen as a tightly-knit unit, with Princes William and Harry often viewed as inseparable. However, that image slowly unraveled over the years, particularly after Harry’s marriage to Meghan Markle.
Prince Harry, King Charles III, and Prince William on their annual skiing holiday in 2002 | Source: Getty Images
While the public may hold out hope for a reconciliation, those close to the royals suggest that the possibility is more uncertain than ever. What are the issues standing in the way of a royal reunion? The reported answer reveals much about the ongoing divide.
Princess Kate, Prince William, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle are photographed at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, on September 10, 2022 | Source: Getty Images
How Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Relationship with the Royal Family Frayed Over Time
The tensions between Harry and the royal family, particularly with his brother, William, have been brewing for years. What started as a family bond between two brothers grew into a deep rift, complicated by personal, familial, and public pressures.
In 2019, it became increasingly clear that the relationship between Harry and the rest of the royal family, especially his brother, had reached a breaking point.
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend the Commonwealth Service on Commonwealth Day at Westminster Abbey in London on March 11, 2019 | Source: Getty Images
This was a particularly difficult year for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as the couple dealt with relentless media scrutiny and the emotional toll it took on them.
Meghan openly admitted that she had experienced extreme emotional distress due to constant criticism from the British tabloids, which had a “race element,” according to Harry.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex during a walkabout as they visited a new sculpture in Hamilton Square on January 14, 2019 | Source: Getty Images
Harry, recalling the trauma of losing his mother, Princess Diana, at such a young age, said, “Yes, I feared, I feared a lot that the end result, the fact that I lost my mum when I was 12 years old, could easily happen again to my wife.”
By the end of that year, it was clear the brothers were on increasingly different paths. Tensions between them had reached a head, and Harry described a specific incident at his Kensington Palace cottage that made it evident how deep the divide had grown.
Prince William and Prince Harry attend the Remembrance Sunday memorial at The Cenotaph in London on November 10, 2019 | Source: Getty Images
According to Harry, during a heated argument in early 2019, William became so frustrated that he physically attacked his younger brother. This confrontation, which allegedly escalated from a shouting match into physical aggression, ended with Harry being knocked to the floor, where he landed on a dog bowl.
For the Duke of Sussex, the argument wasn’t simply a clash between brothers, but a defense of his wife, as William’s frustrations were directed toward Meghan.
William, as his brother described it, had been influenced by certain members of his office and consumed by the tabloid press’s portrayal of Meghan. The British media’s focus on her background — her being American, biracial, divorced, and an actress — only exacerbated the royal family’s initial unease.
Harry felt that many of the stories William believed were unfounded, yet they contributed to the increasing animosity between the two brothers.
Prince William and Prince Harry attend Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral at Westminster Abbey in London on September 19, 2022 | Source: Getty Images
When Harry first introduced Meghan to the royal family in 2016, the initial reaction was not as warm as he had hoped. While King Charles III, then the Prince of Wales, appeared to like Meghan, William remained skeptical.
