Royal biographer Robert Jobson has made new claims about the relationship between Prince William and his father, King Charles, suggesting there has been friction between the two senior royals.
In his book The Windsor Legacy: A Royal Dynasty of Secrets, Scandal, and Survival, Jobson wrote: "William, indomitable, has clashed not only with his father's courtiers, but at times with Charles himself."
Ivory artefacts dispute
Jobson claims that in 2014, tensions arose over William's proposal to destroy the Royal Collection's 1,200 ivory artefacts as a stand against the illegal ivory trade.
According to Jobson, Charles rejected the move as "naive," arguing that the cause could be championed without erasing history. The biographer noted: "The episode underscored their diverging views on heritage, symbolism, and modern ethics."
Brothers' strained relationship
Prince William has also had unresolved disagreements with his brother, Prince Harry. The two were once united by the loss of their mother, but they are no longer on speaking terms.
Prince Harry and his family moved back to the UK at the end of August, but it is thought they have not met with Prince William and Princess Catherine since returning to Britain.
The brothers' issues reportedly began when Harry started dating Meghan Markle, with William reportedly concerned about the speed of the relationship. The pair met in 2016 and married in 2018; by 2020 they had stepped down as senior royals and moved to the USA.
In 2018, William reportedly advised Harry not to rush into the relationship, leading Harry to accuse his brother of trying to wreck the romance. The next year, tensions rose during an alleged confrontation at Kensington Palace.
The Sussexes took part in an explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, and Harry made further allegations about the Royal Family in his 2023 memoir, Spare.
