Prince William's Loyalty Shattered: Prince Harry's Scandalous Attacks on Kate Middleton 'Broke Trust' With Future King
William, Prince of Wales, is said to feel "shattered and heartbroken" over how Prince Harry felt the need to speak ill of Kate, Princess of Wales.
In his and Meghan Markle's 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview, the Duke said: "I think for so many people in the family, especially obviously the men, there can be a temptation or an urge to marry someone who would fit the mold, as opposed to somebody who you are perhaps destined to be with," in an apparent swipe at the future queen's dedication to duty.
"The difference between making decisions with your head or your heart," he added. "And my mum certainly made most of her decisions, if not all of them, from her heart. And I am my mother's son."
In the Oprah Winfrey interview, Prince Harry made a general comment about the difficulties women face when marrying into the British royal family. He implied that there is a pattern of struggling with the intense scrutiny and pressures from both the media and the institution itself.
Harry mentioned that he felt history was repeating itself, drawing a parallel between Meghan's experience and that of his mother, Princess Diana. He expressed concern for the well-being of his family and highlighted the lack of support and understanding from the institution regarding these pressures.
William took the quote directly, and "knew it was his brother's casually cruel way of cutting someone down," a royal insider claimed.
"The clear inference that he was talking about his elder brother astonished friends of the family," a friend of the future king told author Robert Hardman. "On top of all the other breaches of trust, here was Harry making a blatant attack on Catherine. For William, this was the lowest of the low."
While Prince William has not publicly commented in detail about his thoughts on Prince Harry and Meghan's Oprah Winfrey interview, it is known that the interview caused significant tension within the royal family. Reports and sources close to the royals suggested that the heir to the throne was deeply upset and angered by the interview's revelations and the criticisms directed at the monarchy.
William did respond briefly when a reporter asked about the spill-all shortly after the interview aired. He stated: "We are very much not a racist family" in response to the allegations of racism mentioned in the interview. Additionally, it was reported that William was particularly hurt by the way his brother and sister-in-law's claims portrayed the family and institution.
Overall, while Prince William has kept his public statements minimal, it is evident that the interview and Kate insinuation, in particular, strained the relationship between the brothers and caused significant upset within the royal family.
Daily Express reported on the expert opinions.