ROYAL RIFT
Prince Harry and Prince William’s feud explained
PRINCE William and Prince Harry have always had an extremely close bond after their mother Princess Diana died.
But sadly in recent years, rumours of a royal feud have continued to stir amongst the palace and royal watchers. So, what has happened between the royal brothers? Here’s what you need to know.
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Prince William and Harry fall out explained
The two princes have been through a rough period over the past years.
Here's a timeline of events between Prince William and Prince Harry:
2020
- January: Following the growing media speculation that William was furious with Harry, the pair finally responded on January 13. A spokesperson for the princes said: “Despite clear denials, a false story ran in a UK newspaper today speculating about the relationship between The Duke of Sussex and The Duke of Cambridge. For brothers who care so deeply about the issues surrounding mental health, the use of inflammatory language in this way is offensive and potentially harmful.”
- Harry’s friend and journalist Tom Bradby spoke of the royal rift, claiming “things” were definitely said, but the brothers were trying to become closer in the wake of the drama.
- On January 8, Harry and Meghan made a shock announcement that they are stepping back as senior members of the royal family, and will split their time between living in the UK and Canada.
2019
- November: The palace revealed Meghan and Harry would be spending Christmas abroad with Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, instead of at Sandringham with the Royal Family.
- October: Prince Harry all but confirmed the feud with his brother in the ITV documentary, Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, saying their relationship wasn’t the same as it used to be. He said: “But look, we’re brothers, we’ll always be brothers. And we’re certainly on different paths at the moment, but I’ll always be there for him, as I know he’ll always be there for me.” He added: “We don’t see each other as much as we used to because we’re so busy, but you know, I love him dearly. The majority of this stuff [in the press] is created out of nothing, but you know, as brothers, you know, you have good days, you have bad days.”
- August: Sources claimed William and Harry planned to put their differences aside to remember their mother Princess Diana on August 31, the anniversary of her death. The source said: “They talk about the little things about Diana that made them laugh,” adding that Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle planned to “join them later.”
- July: William and Kate join and Harry for the christening of baby Archie.
- June: Meghan and Harry officially split from the joint charity they shared with William and Kate.
- May: William and Kate visited Harry and Meghan’s new house, Frogmore Cottage, which was said to be seen as an "olive branch" between the brothers.
- Later that month, on news of the birth of Harry and Meghan’s first son, Archie, a proud William said: “Obviously thrilled, absolutely thrilled, and obviously looking forward to seeing them in the next few days when things have quietened down. I’m very pleased and glad to welcome my own brother into the sleep deprivation society that is parenting.”
- April: William and Harry both attended the Royal Family’s church service, however were noticeably not speaking to each other.
- March: Royal filmmaker Nick Bullen confirmed that Meghan and Kate were never feuding. He said: “It’s actually that William and Harry have had a rift…All brothers fall out. All families fall out. Their fall-out at the moment is becoming public.”
- February: A royal insider claimed William voiced concerns that Harry and Meghan’s relationship was moving too quickly, which Harry took offence to.
2018
- December: The Sussexes and Cambridges spent Christmas together in Sandringham with the Queen, but royal watchers claimed William was seen ignoring Meghan during the family’s annual walk to the Sandringham church service.
- December: The Sun's Emily Andrews exclusively revealed that Harry, 34, went "mental" accusing William, 37, of trying to "wreck relationship" with Meghan, 38. "I was told by a number of sources that he went ballistic. He said, 'you're trying to wreck this relationship before it's even started'."
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When did Harry and William end their feud?
The royal brothers have reportedly ended their feud after two years.
The brothers decided to hold secret peace talks because both feared the breach might never be healed if Harry moved away.
A senior royal source told The Sun: “William and Harry have spent time together privately away from the official Sandringham Summit working on their relationship and discussing their future.
“It has been ground-breaking in terms of saving their bond as brothers and has been totally driven by them.
“But Kate and Meghan, who was in Canada, did join in with some of the talks on more than one occasion — which is another sign of a real thaw in their relationship. Things are better.
“They decided to cut out all the toxic people stirring around them to deal with each other man-to-man as brothers.
"Given Harry is now permanently moving away, there was a realisation if they didn’t sort things out now, they never would.
“Of course there have been serious differences in opinions but the family warmth is back. And they’re sad they’re going to be so far apart.”
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MORE ON THE ROYAL FAMILY
Do Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton get on?
The first whispers of a royal feud were actually aimed at the spouses of the royal brothers, with claims that Kate Middleton left Princess Charlotte’s dress fitting for Meghan Markle’s wedding “in tears”.
The rumours were so incessant that Channel 5 aired a documentary outlining Meghan and Kate’s relationship, titled Kate v Meghan: Princesses at War.
But largely, the rumours have shut down, with experts agreeing it is not the Duchesses who have had a falling out, it is the Dukes.
Christmas 2018 seemed to quash the rumours of a fall out even further.
The two ladies attended a Boxing Day pheasant shoot and appeared comfortable and friendly towards each other.
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