Why The Rift Between Harry And Meghan Is Growing With William And Kate

In November 2020, it was revealed that Prince Harry and Prince William's sibling rift has continued to grow following the former's decision to step down as a senior member of the royal family. Harry and wife Meghan Markle released a statement via Instagram in January 2020, revealing their desire to build a more peaceful and independent life away from the media spotlight. The bombshell announcement led to the brothers not speaking for two months, per the Daily Mail, and there's been a strain on the Duke of Sussex's relationship with his family ever since. And things appear to be getting worse.

Though the couple still talk to Harry's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, according to royal biographer Sean Smith, he doesn't believe they talk to William and Kate Middleton. In fact, he'd be "surprised" if Harry and Meghan have any contact with the Cambridges at all. "I presume they [the royal family] have Zoom calls and she [Meghan] participates in them. Particularly with the Queen I understand, showing how much Archie has grown this week," he told The Sun. "But whether they have any contact with William and Kate, I don't know. I'd be surprised."

Keep scrolling to find out more details about the brothers' rift and why Prince Harry might have made things more complicated.

In March 2020, Prince Harry and Prince William were reportedly talking again after their father Prince Charles' Covid-19 diagnosis. "That's when they eventually put their own troubles to one side and got in touch with each other and started talking on the phone," a source told Vanity Fair. "They were both desperately worried about their father and Harry picked up the phone to William and they started speaking again." However, it doesn't seem like the reconciliation lasted very long since in November 2020, royal author Katie Nicholl claimed Harry and Megan Markle are growing further apart from the royal family. 

Nicholl told OK! magazine that the strain is due to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's behavior and how they "do things their own way whatever the cost, while the Firm refuses to bend the rules." She also mentioned Harry and Meghan's decision to publicize their visit to Los Angeles National Cemetery on Remembrance Sunday. (Some believe visiting the cemetery was a way to get back at the senior royals after they reportedly denied Harry's request to lay a wreath on his behalf at the royal family's Remembrance service.)

"It highlights the great divide between Harry and the royal family," Nicholl explained. "There is such a gaping cavern now and exercises like this only serve to widen that gap rather than heal the rift." In fact, she believes decisions like this will only "harm their future roles in the monarchy" and presumably only continue to drive a wedge between "The Fab 4."