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Prince Harry's 'Snide' Remarks About Kate Middleton Left Her 'Hurt and Disappointed'

(L) Prince Harry attends the Project Healthy Minds 3rd Annual Gala; (R) Kate Middleton attends the 2025 National Service of Remembrance. Cover Image Source: Getty Images| (L) John Nacion/WireImage; (R) Max Mumby/Indigo
(L) Prince Harry attends the Project Healthy Minds 3rd Annual Gala; (R) Kate Middleton attends the 2025 National Service of Remembrance. Cover Image Source: Getty Images| (L) John Nacion/WireImage; (R) Max Mumby/Indigo
Jan. 14 2026, Published 03:17 AM. ET
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After Prince Harry stepped down as a senior royal and relocated to California, his once-close relationship with his sister-in-law Kate Middleton grew distant. However, as Harry revealed in his memoir, Spare, there were cracks in their bond long before his exit, which he did not hesitate to lay bare. After the controversial book hit the shelves, royal author Katie Nicholl claimed that the Princess of Wales was 'hurt and disappointed,' rather than angry, by the Duke of Sussex's rather 'snide' remarks about her.

Prince Harry and Princess Kate speak as they host a tea party in the grounds of Buckingham Palace to honour the children of those who have died serving in the armed forces on May 13, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Andrew Parsons - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Prince Harry and Kate Middleton speak as they host a tea party in the grounds of Buckingham Palace. (Image Source: Getty Images| Andrew Parsons - WPA Pool)

Speaking to The Sun, Nicholl revealed that Harry's decision to publicly drag her and Prince William's name in the mud deeply upset the Princess. She said, "When you think of the personal revelations, and I think you can call them snide remarks made about Kate in Spare, Harry broke the one rule, and that is staying silent on family matters." Highlighting the breakdown of their relationship, she added, "I don't think Kate is angry. I think it is more a case of feeling very disappointed, very let down, and feeling hurt knowing that she had no right of reply," stressing that the Duke knew very well that she had no power to respond.

Prince William, Princess Kate, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle attend the Commonwealth Day Service 2020 on March 9, 2020, in London. (Image Source: Getty Images | Phil Harris - WPA Pool)
Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle attend the Commonwealth Day Service 2020. (Image Source: Getty Images | Phil Harris - WPA Pool)

The royal expert argued that while Middleton was distressed, William was reportedly furious, as he allegedly felt his wife was blameless throughout the ordeal. She continued, "She [Middleton] acted very much as the peacekeeper; she tried to get the brothers back on an even keel, and for Kate to be dragged into this mucky saga was upsetting for her and certainly did infuriate William." It was not only Middleton's relationship with Harry that appeared beyond repair, but her bond with Meghan Markle as well. She stressed, "There were some deeply personal revelations about Kate in the book…She [Meghan] is certainly in no hurry to come back to Britain [to reconcile], though she was certainly in a hurry to leave!"

Prince William and Prince Harry visit the trenches and tunnels used during the Battle of Vimy Ridge on April 9, 2017, in France. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Andy Commins - Pool)
Prince William and Prince Harry visit the trenches and tunnels used during the Battle of Vimy Ridge. (Image Source: Getty Images | Andy Commins - Pool)

Meanwhile, Nicholl pointed out the 'complete breakdown' of trust between Harry and William, after the memoir was released. Noting that Spare remains one of the major hindrances coming between a potential reconciliation between the brothers, she argued, "There have been many occasions where William and Harry could have they could have met and attempted to reconcile…I think that  tells you everything you need to know about the state of their relationship."

In his 2023 memoir, the Duke of Sussex made multiple revelations about Middleton's alleged feud with him and Markle, painting her in an unfavorable light. He described an alleged tiff between Markle and Middleton over Princess Charlotte's bridesmaid dress, which reportedly made the Duchess cry. He recalled the Princess 'grimacing' while sharing a lip gloss with Markle and appearing uncomfortable with physical affection, such as hugs. He also referenced a remark Markle allegedly made about ‘baby brain’ hormones, which made Middleton furious, highlighting the underlying awkwardness and strain in their relationship. 

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