Prince William and Kate Middleton are said to be "ignoring" the "drama" surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's return to the UK, with relations between the two couples believed to remain strained.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have returned to the UK, drawing attention to a possible reunion with the royal family, particularly with the Duke of Sussex's brother, Prince William. The two royal siblings, who were once exceptionally close following the death of their mother, Princess Diana, are not believed to have repaired their relationship since Harry and Meghan quit their roles as senior working royals and left the UK six years ago.
Strained Relations and Past Claims
After Megxit, as their departure was dubbed, the couple took part in several high-profile interviews about their time as working royals, levelling a number of claims at the monarchy. They also had their own Netflix series, Finding Freedom, about their experience, and Harry published his memoir, Spare, detailing his experiences as a member of the royal family, including alleged conflicts with his brother.
In recent months, the Duke of Sussex is believed to have built bridges with his father, King Charles, on his returns to the UK, but his relationship with William remains strained. The King and the Prince of Wales were told at the same time about Meghan and Harry's plans to return to the UK and are said to be in "complete agreement" that he cannot have a 'half in, half out' role within the monarchy.
King's Letter and Reaction
King Charles issued a letter detailing the position Harry and Meghan now had following their return to the UK. In it, he said: "It is well known that in January 2020 the Duke and Duchess stepped down from undertaking representative duties on behalf of the Sovereign, and are no longer working members of the Royal Family. The charitable work of the Duke and Duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity." The letter also stresses that the couple's HRH titles remain suspended and are not to be used in official contexts.
The King's letter has been sent to Prince Harry's team, government departments, military officials and Lord Lieutenants, according to Palace sources. The letter seems to have taken Harry and Meghan by surprise. A spokesman for the Duke and Duchess said: "We were a little surprised not to have been told about this in advance." Following the statement, Palace officials have told the Daily Mail this claim is "incorrect", insisting the couple had received the letter before it was released publicly, although they were not consulted on its contents.
William's Early Warning
Despite the distance between the brothers now, William is said to have been delighted when Harry first met Meghan, although he did issue his brother with a serious warning about the relationship. In his book, William and Catherine: An Intimate Inside Story, Mirror royal editor details how relations between the brothers began to deteriorate.
The book says before their romance became public knowledge, Harry had plucked up the courage to share his secret with his family. Meghan had pulled off a perfect curtsy to the Queen and managed to charm William, even if he felt a little awkward receiving a hug on arrival. Catherine described Meghan as "friendly", albeit erring on the side of somewhat over-friendly, with a 'touch of California' about her.
As the relationship progressed and interest in the future Duchess of Sussex increased, Harry became furious with how she was being treated, according to Myers. Without consulting his father or brother, as the hierarchy would normally dictate, he told the Kensington Palace communications team to respond highlighting "a wave of abuse and harassment … the racial undertones of comment pieces". Harry was angry that his father and brother criticised him for his actions, and the tense conversations left Harry astounded that his own family were refusing to offer their support, the book says.
Myers explains this period marked an outward shift in their relations. Suddenly it was harder to get them in the same room, each giving various excuses as to why they could not – or perhaps would not – be available to engage with meetings together. The book claims William warned his brother about the speed at which the relationship had progressed, urging him to take his time. Lovestruck, Harry was in no mood to listen.
A source said: "It’s easy to forget now, given everything that has gone on, but William did find Meghan quite refreshing at first. He was genuinely happy for Harry and only wanted the best for him. Meghan made him happy and if she had been prepared to take a chance on their relationship, then he certainly would have never stood in their way. If there was one thing he was uneasy about, it was a clash of styles. He definitely saw it as a potential problem on the horizon."
