Home / Latest News / Prince Harry

Prince William & Prince Harry's Rift Started When They Were Younger: The Older Sibling 'Was The Heir,' Expert Says

Prince William and Prince Harry's rift apparently started when they were younger. Get details.

william harry rift started
Source: MEGA

Over the past few years, tensions have been high between Prince William and Prince Harry. However, experts claim their spat started long before Meghan Markle was in the picture.

“Harry has obviously got into some scrapes which have landed him on the front pages of the newspapers but at plenty of those parties, particularly the teenage parties, William was there, Harry served as a really useful decoy," Simon Vigar said on the Channel 5 documentary Princes At War.

“That was the first time the brothers really fell out because Harry resented the fact that he had taken all the blame, but of course, William was the heir, Harry took the flack and Harry was very cross about that," author Katie Nicholl added. “He refused to speak to his brother or forgive him for some time.”

HOME SWEET HOME! FROM BUCKINGHAM PALACE TO WINDSOR CASTLE — SEE MAGNIFICENT PHOTOS OF THE BRITISH ROYAL RESIDENCES

After Harry, 37, found love with the former actress, 40, rumors swirled that the dad-of-two and William, 39, were no longer close.

"Part of this role and part of this job, this family, being under the pressure that it's under, inevitably stuff happens," Harry said in a TV interview in 2019. "But look, we're brothers, we'll always be brothers. We're certainly on different paths at the moment but I'll always be there for him and as I know he'll always be there for me. We don't see each other as much as we used to because we're so busy, but I love him dearly."

While speaking to Oprah Winfrey earlier this year, the red-headed royal mentioned where things stood with his older sibling.

“I love William to bits. We’ve been through hell together and we have a shared experience but we are on different paths,” he said. “The relationship is space at the moment and time heals all things, hopefully.”

FROM CHRISTMAS SERVICES TO TROOPING THE COLOUR: HOW THE ROYALS CELEBRATE THEIR INTRIGUING FAMILY TRADITIONS

According to author Andrew Morton, since Meghan and Kate Middleton didn't instantly bond, that created more of a rift between the men.

"The Duchess of Cambridge’s coolness towards Meghan, and William’s alleged bullying contributed to a devastating 'Cain and Abel' fallout between the brothers," he wrote. "Harry was the 'prime mover' in souring relations between the Sussexes and the Royal Family, but it was Meghan who ‘took the hit.'"

GET BREAKING ROYAL NEWS
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

More Stories

Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie received a warm welcome in Finland during their official visit.
By Mehak Walia · OCT 27, 2026
The Prince of Wales is gearing up for a star-studded evening as the Earthshot Prize announces that one of Britain's biggest boy bands will perform at its awards ceremony in Mumbai alongside A-List Hollywood royalty.
By Lydia Alty · OCT 27, 2026
Police say they feared a single argument could delay searches of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s properties and put evidence at risk, documents show
By Mary Anthony · OCT 16, 2026
While Andrew has recently been in the news for all the wrong reasons, his encounter with an alleged stalker has left everyone scared.
By Medha Sengupta · AUG 7, 2026
Kate Middleton's latest Wimbledon outfit wasn't all-new—and that's exactly what caught fashion fans' attention!
By Mehak Walia · JUL 13, 2026
Getting invited to the Swift-Kelce wedding became a race, a status symbol, as numerous high-profile individuals lobbied to get an inside pass.
By Mary Anthony · JUL 6, 2026
Prince William joked about Travis Kelce’s most memorable moment being outside his football career.
By Mary Anthony · JUL 3, 2026
Princess Anne stepped out in this iconic dress from 1984 and royal fans are impressed!
By Hrishita Das · JUN 27, 2026
Kate Middleton and Melinda Gates reportedly came together at Windsor Castle over a shared passion for a cause they both support.
By Ira Deokule · JUN 25, 2026
Prince William and Robert Irwin's appearance at a climate event was meant to inspire change, but fans quickly focused on something else.
By Mary Anthony · JUN 24, 2026