Princess Diana's Warning Is At The Root Of Prince William And Harry's Feud
Although Prince Harry and Prince William appeared close for years, it looks like their relationship might not be as solid as we thought. Case in point: When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex reunited with Prince William and Kate Middleton at the Commonwealth Day service on March 9, 2020, they barely exchanged hellos. Talk about a frosty moment, especially since the former "Fab Four" hadn't been out publicly together since November 2019, just a few months before Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their decision to step back as senior members of the royal family. The new parents didn't even bring their young son, Archie, over from Canada for the occasion. We guess there won't be any playdates with cousins Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis anytime soon.
Considering how quickly the brothers' friendship seemed to dissolve, it's fair to wonder what's really at the root of their reported problems. As it turns out, a prior warning from Princess Diana supposedly has something to do with the feud.
Princess Diana was protective over her boys
It's no secret Prince Charles and Princess Diana's marriage from 1981 to 1996 wasn't rosy. The experience was supposedly so upsetting for the late royal that she felt the need to warn her young sons, as a source claimed to Best Life, "Both William and Harry knew how deeply unhappy their mother was over her disastrous marriage to Charles. She wanted that to be a cautionary tale for them." They added, "Diana and Charles were alone together a little over a dozen times before they were married. They both had second thoughts, but felt a duty to go through with it. Diana told William and Harry to make absolutely sure the woman they wanted to marry was 'the one' and not to rush or be forced into anything."
Prince William reportedly remembered these words of wisdom when Prince Harry began dating Meghan Markle in 2016, supposedly asking him, per the Daily Mail, "Are you sure you're doing the right thing?" An insider alleges Prince Harry didn't take kindly to the question, telling Best Life, "Harry felt that William was dismissive of his relationship with Meghan from the start. That never changed, things only got worse."
Of course, it's possible there isn't any truth to these claims — the only people who can set the record straight are Prince William and Prince Harry.
Prince Harry has defended Meghan Markle from the start
While Prince William was allegedly "dismissive" of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's relationship from day one, Harry has had Markle's back from the start. In 2016, news broke that the prince and the former actress were an item. Shortly after the press got wind of the relationship, the media storm began. Headline after headline appeared seemingly bashing the Suits alum for her every move.
In an unprecedented move, Harry released a statement in November 2016 — just months after the two started dating — noting that Markle had been "been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment." The statement went on to express Harry's feelings about the treatment of his then-girlfriend."Prince Harry is worried about Ms Markle's safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her," the statement added. "It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms. Markle should be subjected to such a storm."
Despite Harry's initial plea, the storm has continued to rage on. In 2019, following news that Harry and Markle would be taking legal action against a British tabloid, Harry revealed why he is so adamant about protecting his wife from the media. "I've seen what happens when someone I love is commoditized to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person," he said (via NBC News.) "I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces."
Whether it's scrutiny from the press or his family, it seems that Harry is determined to stand by Markle's side.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are on their "own path"
Although many people remain focused on the rumors swirling around Prince William and Prince Harry's supposed fallout, others are looking for more logical reasons to explain the apparent discord. One possibility? The Duke and Duchess of Sussex simply want a fresh start away from Kensington Palace and the United Kingdom, as one source told People: "They love being in Canada, but they are looking at houses in L.A. too. They'll likely have houses in both places." Another insider added, "This is what Meghan and Harry have always wanted—to create their own life. It's got to feel like an immense relief to get out of the U.K. and go down their own path."
Just because the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are committed to their new life, it doesn't mean they've forgotten their old one. The two have reportedly accepted the Queen of England's "invitation to visit her this summer at Balmoral, her Scottish retreat," The Sunday Times reported. Of course, it's possible these plans will change amid the coronavirus outbreak, which forced the Queen to cancel her future engagements. TBD.
Is there hope for the future?
No matter the reason for Prince Harry and Prince William's reported feud, it's important to remember they're brothers first and foremost. The Duke of Sussex touched on this sentiment in an October 2019 interview with Britain's ITV, stating, "Part of this role and part of this job and this family, being under the pressure that it's under, stuff happens, but 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, and he'll always be there for me." He continued, "We don't see each other as much as we used to because we're so busy, but I love him dearly, and the majority of the stuff is created out of nothing, but you know, as brothers you have good days, you have bad days."
Additionally, the royal siblings reportedly talked things over before Prince Harry left for Canada in January 2020. "Given Harry is now permanently moving away, there was a realization if they didn't sort things out now, they never would," a source told The Sun. "They decided to cut out all the toxic people stirring around them to deal with each other man-to-man as brothers." This report seems to track with the claim that Prince Harry may be having a hard time leaving his family, as it can be tricky to move on from a situation with so many loose ends.
All in all, we wish Princess Diana's sons the best.