THE REAL TRUTH How two princes and brothers fell out: Prince William and Prince Harry’s relationship

THE REAL TRUTH How two princes and brothers fell out: Prince William and Prince Harry’s relationship.The news and rumours surrounding Prince William and Prince Harry’s years-long feud are ongoing, though it finally appears that the brothers’ relationship may be on the mend.

The sudden death of their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, and their grandfather, Prince Philip over the last two years has meant the pair have been unable to keep too far of a distance. Over the last year in particular, they’ve been forced to reunite publicly and put on a united display on multiple occasions.

Now, royal commentators say the pair may be on the road to healing, despite the deep rift which has divided them for so long.

Below, we recall a timeline of the brothers’ relationship, key moments in their falling out, and the many times they’ve banded together despite their differences.

One of the most memorable public moments between William and Harry is the devastating day of their mother, Princess Diana’s funeral.

On September 6, 1997, the brothers and royal family gathered to lay Diana to rest, after she died in a car crash in Paris.

On the 10th anniversary of Diana’s death in 2007, Harry spoke of how he and William were forever bonded by the loss of their mother.

“William and I can separate life into two parts. There are the years that we were blessed beside us with the physical presence of both our mother and father. And then there are the 10 years since our mother’s death,” he said in a speech at the time.

“She was our guardian, friend and protector. She never once allowed her unfaltering love for us to go unspoken or undemonstrated. Behind the media glare, to us two children, she was quite simply the best mother in the world.”
Diana, Princess Of Wales, Prince William And Prince Harry Visit ‘Thorpe Park’ Amusement Park.

2011: Harry stands by William’s side at his wedding to Kate Middleton

The brothers grew up reasonably close thanks to the loss of their mother, which ultimately led to Harry being the first choice as best man for William’s wedding to Kate Middleton.

On April 29, 2011, William and Kate’s history-making wedding took place, with Harry standing as his brother’s ultimate support at the front of Westminster Abbey in London.

2016: The brothers’ rift begins as William voices concern about Harry’s relationship with Meghan Markle

Harry and Meghan Markle met all the way back in July 2016, when a mutual friend of theirs set them up on a blind date.

Markle was acting on the television show, Suits at the time, and the pair appeared to hit it off. A little while later, the pair spent the summer on a trip to Africa.

Due to the rapidity of their unfolding romance, William reportedly had his concerns about Harry and Meghan’s relationship.

Royal biographer and Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown investigated in her book The Palace Papers: Inside the House of Windsor – the Truth and the Turmoil, that William had thought Meghan needed more time to adjust to life in the UK and the royal way.

“A person close to the Duke of Cambridge told me that William thought she should have more time to build up a life in the UK and make friends who didn’t always have to be brought in confidence to the palace,” Brown wrote.

“It had been hard enough for Kate [Middleton], but Meghan was a glamorous actress who would be the first woman of colour to join the royal family, factors that would add enormously to the pressure.”

She also revealed that William had been concered for Harry’s own mental health, as the prince had been juggling his own issues in his early adulthood.

“Unspoken to Harry…was the older brother’s fear that Harry’s mental fragility was such that he wouldn’t be strong enough to handle all of that on her behalf, as well as his own issues,” Brown added.

2017: Harry credits William for helping him seek mental health support

Harry revealed to The Telegraph in 2017 that he had his brother to thank for supporting him with his mental health.

At the time, the young prince had been struggling with the early loss of his mother and navigating life as an adult and a royal.

“It’s all about timing. And for me personally, my brother, you know, bless him, he was a huge support to me,” Harry recalled.

“He kept saying this is not right, this is not normal, you need to talk to [someone] about stuff, it’s OK.”The Telegraph in April 2017.

He added: “I can safely say that losing my mum at the age of 12, and therefore shutting down all of my emotions for the last 20 years, has had a quite serious effect on not only my personal life but my work as well.”

2017: William supports Harry and Meghan’s engagement and wedding plans

Despite his initial worries about the relationship, William publicly supported Harry and Meghan’s engagement.

In a statement at the time, both William and wife Kate said “We are very excited for Harry and Meghan.

“It has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to see how happy she and Harry are together.”

May 2018: William stands as Harry’s best man at his wedding to Meghan Markle

Just as Harry had acted as best man to William, William returned the favour, and stood as his brother’s closest confidante for Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle in May 2018.

In fact, William even planned his brother’s bucks.
February 2019: Brothers appear to drift

In February 2019, the news that the Sussexes were splitting their charity from the Cambridges, and essentially bringing an end to “the fab four” sent some uneasiness among royal commentators and fans.

The news was confirmed by the palace in June, with it stating that the Cambridge’s “The Royal Foundation” would now solely belong to them, while the Sussexes would “establish their own new charitable foundation with transitional operating support from The Royal Foundation” later in the year.

July 2019: William attends the Christening of Harry and Meghan’s son Archie

Despite rumours of a rift and multiple arguments between the brothers, William still stood proud at his nephew Archie’s christening at Windsor Castle on July 6, 2019.
2019: Harry confirms that he and William had a falling out

In the ITV documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, Harry confirmed that he and William had fallen out.

He famously claimed that he and his brother have “good days” and “bad days”.

“Part of this role and part of this job, this family, being under the pressure… inevitably stuff happens,” he said.

“But look, we’re brothers, we’ll always be brothers. 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 I love him dearly.”

January 2020: Harry and Meghan announce they are stepping back from royal life

In January 2020, Harry and Meghan shocked the world and the royal family when they announced that they were stepping back from their royal duties.

The couple reportedly never consulted any member of the royal family about their decision to renounce their titles, and “blindsided” William and Kate.

“There’s still a rift between the two brothers,” an insider told Us Weekly at the time. This was reportedly made worse given Harry and Meghan made their announcement the day before Kate’s 38th birthday.

“It’s sad because when they were younger, William would be the first person Harry would go to with big news like this.

“William is incredibly hurt, but at the same time he has his own family to focus on and is trying to move forward with his life.”
August 2020: The release of royal biography Finding Freedom divides the brothers even more

The Harry and Meghan biography Finding Freedom, penned by royal commentators Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand acted as the cherry on the sundae for the disintegration of Harry and William’s relationship.

The book, which Harry and Meghan denied having any involvement in, reportedly upset Willia, who thought it a “calculated way” for Harry to paint himself in a “favourable light”, despite his controversial move to leave the royal family, said a source to Us Weekly.
May 2020: Brothers back on speaking terms due to Charles contracting COVID-19

In May 2020, the brothers were forced to put their differences aside when their father contracted COVID-19.

In such an unanticipated time, the period reportedly brought the brothers together, forcing them to have more regular phone calls and conversations – the most contact that they’d had in months, said royal reporter Katie Nicholl.
March 2021: Harry + Meghan bombshell Oprah interview

Nothing prepared anyone for Harry and Meghan’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021.

The interview reportedly infuriated Prince William, particularly the couple’s claims that there was a “racist” in the family who had made comments about the colour of son Archie’s skin before his birth.

Though in the interview itself, Harry only spoke positively of his relationship with his brother.

“I love William to bits. We’ve been through hell together and we have a shared experience, but we are on different paths,” he said. “The relationship is space at the moment and time heals all things, hopefully.”
April 2021: Brothers reunite for Prince Philip’s funeral in April 2021

In a brief return to the UK, Prince Harry was forced to reunite with William as they gathered together for their grandfather Prince Philip’s funeral.

The funeral was held at St George’s Chapel, and Harry, William and Kate were even spotted talking together as they headed back to Windsor Castle after the event.

July 2021: The brothers come together for the unveiling of Diana’s statue in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace

The brothers delighted royal fans by putting on a united front as they unveiled a statue of their mother in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace in July 2021.

The statue was erected for what would have been Diana’s 60th birthday. The Princess was reportedly incredibly fond of the Sunken Garden during her time at the palace.

The brothers even wrote a joint statement together, commemorating the special event.

June 2022: Harry and Meghan travel to celebrate Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, but barely interact with William and Kate

For the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June this year, Harry and Meghan decided to travel to the UK, for their first official return to the country together.

While they made limited appearances over the Jubilee weekend, the pair unfortunately barely interacted with William and Kate. During the Queen’s Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, the Sussexes did not sit beside William and Kate.

While the pair were able to introduce the Queen to their newborn daughter Lilibet, there were no reports of a meeting between the Sussex family and the Cambridges.

September 2022: The death of Queen Elizabeth forces the brothers to reunite once again

The sudden death of Queen Elizabeth has brought the brothers back together once again, and some royal commentators guess that the event brings about the perfect chance for them to “heal”.

On an episode of True Royalty TV’s The Royal Beat, royal commentator Wesley Kerr said: “I think it’s very much a moment [for the Prince and Princess of Wales and the Sussexes] to heal.

Yet other sources to The Telegraph say that Prince Harry’s upcoming tell-all memoir has ruined things for good.

“It’s really hard to spend time with someone, or even to speak openly when you know they’re writing a book about you and giving interviews,” they told the publication. “The trust is gone right now.”

Upon the news that the monarch had been placed under “medical supervision” in September, Harry travelled to Scotland to be with his grandmother and family. He sadly arrived just late of his grandmother’s passing.

The palace confirmed the Queen died on September 8, 2022, at age 96.

In the week following, the brothers have had a handful of outings together, making a rare appearance together while greeting mourners outside Windsor Castle with Kate and Meghan.

They also notably walked side-by-side during a procession to Westminster Hall with the queen’s casket, and are set to appear again for a vigil at Westminster Hall, where the Queen is lying in state.