This tension continued even after Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, resigned from their royal responsibilities four years ago and relocated to the United States. Following their departure, the couple openly discussed their experiences within the royal family, making controversial comments that appeared to deepen the divide within the family and cause displeasure among senior royals, including the Prince of Wales.
However, according to royal biographer Robert Lacey, this fallout between the two brothers had already begun as early as 2002. Lacey claims in his best-selling book, "Battle of Brothers," that Meghan was not the sole factor behind Prince Harry's decision to distance himself from his family. He suggests that in January 2005, after the "Colonials and Natives" costume controversy, Harry started reevaluating his older brother's involvement and perceived unfairness in William's favorable treatment. This situation led to a sense of alienation for Harry, resulting in strained relations and periods of silence between the brothers. Similar tensions had arisen previously in 2002 during the "Drugs Shame" incident, when Harry first began to realize the consequences of being the functional scapegoat.
Despite their ongoing differences, there were hopes that the recent revelation of the Princess of Wales' cancer diagnosis might pave the way for brief, albeit carefully orchestrated, conversations between Prince Harry and Prince William, even with the necessary physical distancing measures in place. Royal expert and author Tom Quinn, in an exclusive interview with the Mirror, suggested that given Kate's diagnosis, Harry would likely make efforts to see his brother and sister-in-law during his return to the UK in May. However, any potential meeting would be meticulously planned and intentionally brief, allowing the brothers to avoid difficult conversations.
