Prince Harry and Prince William’s bond is badly damaged not so much because Harry left royal duties, but because of the silence and distance that followed.
Royal expert Amanda Matta told Fox News Digital that Harry’s real frustration seems to be with how the family reacted after he and Meghan stepped back in 2020. She said Harry is upset that no one in the family will openly discuss the concerns he’s raised, even though he’s spoken about them publicly.
A separate royal insider told Us Weekly there is still “lingering resentment” between the brothers. William feels that Harry left a big gap in his life, both personally and in their royal work. The plan had been for the brothers to work side by side during William’s future reign. Without Harry, William feels left alone, even if he’d never admit it publicly. Because of this, William is expected to lean more on their cousins, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, as he prepares for his time as king.
Royal commentator Hilary Fordwich also said there’s little hope for the brothers fixing things anytime soon. Their lives have completely split since Harry left royal duties. Harry still seems to hold on to anger toward William, feeling unsupported, especially when it comes to things like his security.
Matta added that Harry probably doesn’t regret leaving royal life behind, but he might regret how it cut him off from his father and brother. She thinks Harry is likely upset that no one has ever reached out privately, even now, while King Charles and Kate Middleton are facing serious health problems.
As for William, Matta said he might quietly envy Harry’s freedom, though he’d never say it. Instead, William seems focused on protecting his own family’s privacy and setting his own boundaries lessons he may have picked up from watching Harry.
