Author Reveals How Kate Middleton and Prince William Reacted to Harry Leaving Royal Family
An upcoming book claims the Princess of Wales saw her brother-in-law’s exit as the result of long-standing differences.
When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced in January 2020 that they would step back as senior working royals, apparently, Prince William and Kate Middleton had two very different reactions to that announcement. A new account suggests that while the moment was seismic for both William and Middleton, their instincts on how to respond were not entirely aligned.
In his forthcoming book, William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, out March 10, royal editor Russell Myers revisits the fallout from the Sussexes’ decision to divide their time between the U.K. and America. An excerpt published by The Mirror sheds light on the private reactions behind the scenes—particularly the contrast between the Prince and Princess of Wales. According to Myers, “Catherine had less interest than her husband in trying to persuade Harry to stay in his current role.” He explains that she viewed the situation as, in many ways, inevitable. “She believed William and Harry’s fundamental differences as the ‘heir and the spare’ had created the inevitability of Harry wanting more from his role than being a bit-part player.”
William, by contrast, is described as being deeply affected by his younger brother’s departure. The excerpt notes that he was “intensely saddened at his brother’s decision to quit.” Myers writes, “He and Harry had been drifting apart for years, but now he knew deep down that there would be no turning back. Fond memories of their childhood, from helping each other through the tragedy of their mother’s death, to growing up in the public eye, were now tarnished by the division at the heart of the family.”
The Sussexes ultimately relocated to California, where they are raising their two children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4. In their original statement, Harry and Meghan expressed a desire to become “financially independent” while continuing to support the monarch. However, during discussions later dubbed the 'Sandringham summit,' Queen Elizabeth II made clear that a “half-in, half-out” arrangement would not be possible.
Before relations became strained, Harry and Middleton were widely reported to share a warm, easy bond. Accounts from former royal staff have also pointed to the ease with which they once defined their relationship. In an excerpt from The Royal Butler: My Remarkable Life of Royal Service, Grant Harrold—who served as the princes’ butler at Highgrove for seven years—recalled that Middleton and Harry would often spend time together when William was occupied with official duties. “He used to go out with Kate. William would be away, and Kate and Harry would be off doing stuff together,” Harold wrote.
Similarly, Royal biographer Christopher Andersen said of the two that “Harry was always close to Kate, and he always said she was the sister he never had.” “They always had this banter,” he added, per The Daily Express. “They had similar senses of humor.” However, as tensions escalated—especially in the months leading up to the Sussexes’ 2020 departure—that once-easy closeness is said to have faded.
