Prince William and Prince Harry's relationship has reportedly reached a breaking point, with the elder brother deciding to cut ties for the sake of his own mental health, according to royal expert Ingrid Seward. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's departure from royal duties in 2020 and subsequent move to the United States strained their relationship with the rest of the royal family, a situation exacerbated by their tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, the Netflix docuseries "Harry & Meghan," and Prince Harry's memoir "Spare."
"William is sensitive, he likes structure and has perseverance. He does not give up easily," Seward, a royal biographer and editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, told the Mirror. "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."
The Prince of Wales' decision comes during a particularly challenging year. Both his father, King Charles, and his wife, Kate Middleton, were diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. This added pressure on William, who has had to take on additional responsibilities at home and within the monarchy. He is now playing dual roles as both dad and mom to his three children—Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6—while maintaining his active royal duties.
Despite the personal and family health challenges, Prince William has continued to fulfill his royal obligations. He recently represented King Charles and the United Kingdom at the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings on Omaha Beach in France. Seward believes these trials have only strengthened William's character, stating, "The traumas of the past year have made him a stronger person. 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."
Prince Harry, on the other hand, has expressed a desire to reconcile with his family. In a January 2023 interview with Anderson Cooper for "60 Minutes," while promoting his book, Harry confirmed that he had not spoken or texted with his older brother but hoped for a peaceful resolution. However, the distance between the brothers seems more entrenched now than ever.
Christopher Andersen, a royal author and commentator, told Fox News that Prince Harry is becoming increasingly "angrier and frustrated" due to the lack of communication from his family. "The King and the Princess of Wales' cancer battles have made it easier for both King Charles III and Prince William to put Harry out of their minds," Andersen explained. "They are both shunning him now because they can't afford not to—they simply can't handle the distraction."
William's focus has been on his immediate family and royal duties, which has left little room for addressing the ongoing rift with Harry. This stance appears to be a protective measure, allowing William to manage the significant pressures he faces without additional emotional turmoil from his strained relationship with his brother.
The Royal Family's dynamics have always been complex, but the recent health issues of King Charles and Kate Middleton have added a new layer of difficulty. For William, maintaining a distance from Harry seems to be a necessary step to preserve his own well-being and fulfill his responsibilities as the future king.