Home / Latest News / Kate Middleton

'Best of Friends' No More: Meghan Markle's Entry and Marriage to Prince Harry Drove a Wedge Between Duke and Prince William

Princes Harry and William were said to have a 'close-knit bond' for years before the fiery-haired royal started dating Meghan Markle in 2016.

prince harry
Princes William and Harry 'began to fracture' once Meghan Markle appeared in 2016. Source: MEGA

Princes William and Harry were reportedly a "close-knit pair of royal siblings" in the years leading up to Harry's first date with Meghan Markle during the summer of 2016.

Former butler to King Charles III, Grant Harrold, who also helped look after the princes, spoke on behalf of Slingo about the shattered bond between brothers. "It's very sad, they were just the best of friends, I remember William and Harry just sitting there giggling and laughing the whole night, that’s how close they were they’d socialize all the time as brothers," he shared.

prince harry

"This probably stopped when Harry got married, that's the reality of it," he added. "In fairness, when William and Catherine married they obviously moved away, but Harry would still stay with them, and they would all go out together. Harry moving to another country put a spanner in the works so, I think it’s been a gradual process over the past ten years."

Harry and Meghan announced their royal engagement to one another in November 2017, which would kick off a series of "notable tensions" between the betrothed, royal rebels-in-training and William and Kate.

First up on the royal rift tally of tensions was "lip gloss gate." The February 2018 Royal Foundation Summit on mental health led to the quartet of thirtysomethings being labeled the "Fab Four" by the British press, which was to be short-lived. According to the Duke of Sussex's memoir, Kate and Meghan started having issues at that event, and it happened backstage.

"All this came on the heels of an awkward moment backstage. Meg asked to borrow Kate's lip gloss. An American thing. Meg forgot hers, worried she needed some, and turned to Kate for help," the prince wrote.

prince harry

Describing the animosity that festered between the Duchess and Duchess-to-be, Harry added, "Kate, taken aback, went into her handbag and reluctantly pulled out a small tube. Meg squeezed some onto her finger and applied it to her lips. Kate grimaced."

This incident would be soon followed by the Princess Charlotte bridesmaid dress fiasco that left Meghan furious at Kate, which happened days before the future California residents married.

meghan markle

Today, reports suggest the Prince of Wales will run a very different type of monarchy compared to his father. This could also include a full severance in every possible way with his brother and sister-in-law.

"William is already planning for when he becomes King, and he doesn’t see a future for the Sussexes in the royal family," an insider spilled. "The feeling is that allowing the Sussexes back into the fold is a bad move, and they should be resigned to the fringes indefinitely."

Although it could be many years before he becomes monarch upon his father's death, the heir to the throne is reportedly trying to envision how to neutralize "the Sussex problem," which will likely include "no return home" for the pair when he is King.

prince william

Powered by RedCircle

GET BREAKING ROYAL NEWS
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

More Stories

A UK barrister has a warning for the royals suggesting that the bedrock of British culture is under a strain that it may never truly recover. 
By Sakshi Singh · FEB 19, 2026
A new account suggests the two sisters-in-law competed fiercely for press attention and public approval.
By Abha Anindita · FEB 7, 2026
The Grammy-nominated artist discussed Harry and Meghan on a podcast, and shared what she thought about the estrangement.
By Abha Anindita · FEB 5, 2026
Meghan has already started to tease what appears to be a carefully thought-out Valentine's Day rollout tied to love, gifting, and slow mornings at home.
By Madhurima · JAN 28, 2026
Although Prince Harry's private security team identified her immediately, they found themselves in a legal stalemate.
By Sakshi Singh · JAN 26, 2026
Harry named 10 associates he was in regular contact with during the relevant period, including his brother, sister-in-law, and ex, Chelsy Davy.
By Medha Sengupta · JAN 22, 2026
The Duke of Sussex entered the Gothic Victorian court building around 10 AM.
By Abha Anindita · JAN 19, 2026
This time around, the palace appears unwilling to loosen its purse strings beyond what is necessary.
By Medha Sengupta · JAN 17, 2026
Insiders say the couple took on total risk with no investors involved.
By Abha Anindita · JAN 16, 2026
Sources say the silence was deliberate — but the Princess of Wales is choosing calm
By Abha Anindita · JAN 13, 2026