Exclusive: Prince Harry Marrying Meghan Markle Was the Cause of Princes William and Harry's Rift

Princes William and Harry were believed to have started growing apart during the 2000s, but then-Prince Charles' butler from that era disputes that notion, and claims it was Harry marrying Meghan Markle that caused the brotherly friction.

"I don’t think the rift between Harry and William began before he met Meghan, I always heard good things, and they had a very good relationship," former palace aide Grant Harrold exclusively tells The Royal Observer.

"When I knew them, it had not broken down by any means and this was up until Meghan was on the scene, at least," he adds. "It was only after the marriage where things began to break down, as far as I know."

Harrold's insights follow previous reports that suggest the Duke of Sussex could fall into eventual irrelevance if he remains "estranged" from the British royal family as the years go by.

"I think he might be holding out hope for when William becomes King," former royal butler Paul Burrell said on behalf of Spin Genie. "Harry believed there would be a new chapter and a new leaf with a place for him, but he would be so estranged by then that he would be barely recognizable to the public, and I’m not sure they want him back on a full-time role."

Harry's relationship with the royal family has continued to break down since he left his role and home nation in early 2020 for Montecito, Calif., with his Duchess.

Harrold continues: "It’s possible there would have been rifts in the lead-up too, and maybe William had reservations about Harry’s marriage to Meghan. Harry is a senior member of the royal family and his choice of wife was very important, it’s possible that could have caused some sort of breakdown. When I was there, long before Meghan, the relationship was like any other brothers, which continued as far as I know, up until they got married."

Insiders have shared that the two royal brothers have not spoken to one another since Queen Elizabeth II's State Funeral on September 19, 2022. Harry quickly flew to meet with his dad after the King's cancer diagnosis on February 6, where reports suggest the duo spoke anywhere from 12 minutes to one hour.

"At some point, that began to break down. Hopefully, one day, it will resolve and something will bring them together and they will be able to put everything behind them and carry on their relationship as brothers," Harrold concludes.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently came under fire for giving another "revealing interview" on CBS Sunday Morning, August 4, 2024, in which the Duchess said she has barely "scrapped the surface" in detailing what her experiences in the royal family were truly like.