Prince Harry is convinced that his late mother, Princess Diana, would have supported his decision to leave the royal family, according to sources close to him. “Harry was scarred by what his mother went through, and when he saw the same thing happening to Meghan, he knew he must act,” explained an insider. “He’s certain his mother would have approved of him leaving the royal family. Diana had tried to do the same, and he thinks she would be proud of him and his new life.”
This belief is central to Harry's sense of purpose in his new life away from royal duties. However, his older brother, Prince William, has a starkly different perspective. “William thinks their mother would be appalled by Harry abandoning his family,” the source noted, referring to the contentions Harry aired in his memoir, Spare, released in 2023. “It would break her heart to see brother against brother.”
The rift between the brothers has been widening since the release of Spare and the Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan. The two have reportedly not spoken since, and reconciliation seems distant. “Diana’s birthday is painful for Harry and William both,” the source said. “For Harry, he thinks about what could have been, and William is reminded of being without her from such a young age. The loss of their mother cuts deep.”
Royal expert Katie Nicholl echoed these sentiments, telling Entertainment Tonight, "Relations between the Sussexes and the Wales remains at an all-time low. I’m told that William and Harry really are not even on speaking terms."
The estrangement was further highlighted by a recent event. Both brothers were invited to the wedding of Hugh Grosvenor, 7th Duke of Westminster, to Olivia Henson. Harry, aware of the potential awkwardness, chose to decline the invitation. “Harry very diplomatically declined the invite, because he knew it would just be too awkward for him to be even in a venue as large as Chester Cathedral with his brother,” Nicholl explained. Despite Grosvenor being close friends with both William and Harry and godfather to their children, Prince George and Prince Archie, Harry’s absence was notable.
While Prince Harry navigates his new life, Prince William continues to embody the values and responsibilities expected of a future king. Royal analysts reflect on Princess Diana's enduring legacy, asserting that she would be immensely proud of William. “It has been one of the most difficult couple of years of Prince William’s life,” commented Ingrid Seward, a royal analyst, to the Mirror.
Seward elaborated on William’s journey, highlighting the significant changes and challenges he has faced. “In what seemed the blinking of an eye, he has gone from a carefree young dad to becoming the Prince of Wales on the death of his much-loved grandmother, the late Queen,” she said. William’s resilience and commitment to his duties have been evident, even as he navigated personal and familial challenges.
“William is sensitive, he likes structure and has perseverance. He does not give up easily. His relationship with brother Harry upset him more than he would care to admit. But he found it easier to cut ties rather than allow himself to be continually annoyed,” Seward noted. Despite the strained relationship with Harry, William has found strength in his family life with Kate, which provides him the security, love, and friendship he needs.
The past year has been particularly taxing for William. “His father got cancer and Kate had a serious abdominal operation. Later, she too had to have cancer treatment. William played both mother and father to the children while he carried on with his royal duties supporting the Queen in his father’s absence,” Seward added.
These experiences have forged William into a stronger individual, aligning with Diana’s hopes for him. “He has become the kind of man Diana always hoped he would be. Kind, considerate, and able to take on whatever life throws at him,” Seward stated.