NEED TO KNOW

  • Prince William’s anger at his brother, Prince Harry, has reportedly turned into indifference
  • The Sunday Times made the claim in a new piece published on William’s June 21 birthday
  • The outlet reported that a friend said the familial rift used to make William “very upset,” but he is now in a “healthier space”

Prince William‘s mindset when it comes to his rift with Prince Harry has reportedly changed.

In a piece published by The Sunday Times on June 21 for Prince William’s 43rd birthday, Roya Nikkhah offered a new view on the deep divide separating King Charles‘ sons, claiming William’s ire at Harry has turned into indifference.

A friend of William’s told the outlet, “What has struck me the most recently is that he just doesn’t mention it at all. It used to be that the family stuff was taking up a lot of space in his head; it was a very close relationship, and he was very upset.”

“But he’s not letting it get to him at all anymore. It is a change. It’s sad, but it’s a much healthier space for him to be at,” the friend continued.

Queen Camilla, King Charles, Prince Louis, Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Kate Middleton at Trooping the Colour on June 14, 2025.

Chris Jackson/Getty

Fractures within the royal family first became public in 2020 when Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped back from their royal roles in the U.K. and moved to the U.S. The strain escalated with bombshell interviews, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s docuseries and Harry’s groundbreaking memoir, Spare. 

Prince William and Prince Harry last stepped out together with their wives in September 2022 to greet mourners in Windsor following Queen Elizabeth‘s death, making a key appearance that both couples found difficult. The royal brothers also reportedly avoided each other at the memorial service honoring their late uncle, Robert Fellowes, in August 2024. 

The report comes after Prince Harry spoke with the BBC in May after losing a legal appeal regarding his security in the U.K. In the interview, the Duke of Sussex revealed his wish for a rapprochement: “I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore.”

Kate Middleton, Prince William, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on the Long Walk at Windsor Castle on Sept. 10, 2022.

Chris Jackson/Getty

The Sunday Times added that there was bafflement in royal circles around a report alleging that Prince Harry, 40, wanted his kids Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, to have HRH (His/Her Royal Highness) titles so they could choose whether they’d like to be working royals one day. 

The outlet speculated that the idea is unlikely when Prince William becomes monarch.

The Prince of Wales turned 43 following a year he described as “brutal” in what was “probably the hardest year in my life,” in which his father, King Charles, and wife, Kate Middleton, were both diagnosed with cancer. 

The Princess of Wales said in January that she is in remission while the King’s treatment is ongoing, casting William’s future reign into sharper focus.

“There are some major shifts coming behind the scenes,” a friend tells PEOPLE in this week’s exclusive cover story.

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Amid the preparation for an inevitable transition, it’s thought that Prince William and Princess Kate will continue putting their family first.

“William has always been clear about how important his family is — it’s a vital element in his life and in the life of the royal family as an institution, because of the example that a really steady, stable and happy family projects,” Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, a former private secretary to Prince William, Princess Kate and Prince Harry and godfather to Prince George, 11, told the Sunday Times.

Commenting on the challenging year, he added, “I think it has demonstrated William’s character and his courage — he’s had to take the whole thing in his stride and shown that he won’t be pushed around.”