Prince Harry once described Kate Middleton as ‘the sister I never had and always wanted’ – but their relationship has been strained in recent years following the release of his memoirs
Kate and Harry attend a day service at Westminster Abbey on April 25, 2019 in London(Image: Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)
Prince Harry and Kate Middleton were once known for their close relationship. Harry, who often spent time with his brother William and Kate, had a deep affection for the future Queen, even referring to her as “the sister I’ve never had and always wanted.”
However, their bond took a significant hit following the publication of Harry’s revealing memoir Spare, which put a strain on their previously strong relationship. In the book, Harry levelled several pointed criticisms at the Royal Family, with Kate not being spared.
He partly attributed his decision to wear a Nazi costume to a party to both William and Kate, suggested that Kate felt “on edge” due to inevitable comparisons with Meghan, and claimed a disagreement over bridesmaids’ dresses left Meghan “sobbing on the floor.”
These revelations reportedly deeply upset William and Kate, and Harry faced backlash for airing his grievances so publicly, especially given the Royal Family’s tradition of not responding.
In his account of the notorious disagreement over Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress, Harry seemed to imply that Kate was unwilling to compromise, despite Meghan’s clear distress.
Prince Harry has reportedly reached out to Kate Middleton in a bid to ‘mend’ their rift, after the Duchess of Cambridge’s appearance at Wimbledon last week(Image: Getty Images)
An insider stated that the memoir “paints Kate as rigid and overly formal, contrasting Meghan’s laid-back Californian approach”, reports the Mirror.
However, many rallied in support of Princess Kate, including Royal photographer Arthur Edwards. “Harry has publicly targeted his sister-in-law in a way that’s not just damaging to her but to the entire family dynamic,” he commented.
Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, remarked: “Harry’s decision to drag Kate into this narrative was both unnecessary and hurtful. She’s always been the epitome of grace under pressure, and this incident paints a distorted picture of who she really is.”
It’s reported that Kate was deeply upset by Harry’s actions but chose to stay quiet on the issue, focusing instead on her Royal duties and her young family. In recent years, her health became a priority after a cancer diagnosis – she is now thankfully in remission.
The Sussexes’ issues weren’t solely with Spare. They voiced their grievances against the royals in the notorious Oprah interview, and in Meghan and Harry’s Netflix documentary, they once again criticised Kate, accusing her of being overly formal during their initial meeting.
Kate, William, Harry, and Meghan at Windsor Castle on September 10, 2022 after Queen Elizabeth II’s death(Image: Getty)
“Even when Will and Kate came over, and I met her for the first time, they came over for dinner, I remember I was in ripped jeans and I was barefoot,” Meghan recalled.
“Like I was a hugger, I’ve always been a hugger. I didn’t realise that that is really jarring for a lot of Brits. I guess I started to understand really quickly that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside.”
Prince William is reported to have been deeply upset by his brother’s remarks, with the disparaging comments about his wife being a tipping point for the heir to the throne.
As Royal commentator Katie Nicholl noted: “I do know that William was very angry that Harry had drawn Kate into it when he felt Kate was blameless throughout.
“She 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.”
Furthermore, The Sunday Times reports that despite hints from Harry about wanting to reconcile with his family, the Prince of Wales remains troubled by the criticisms levied at Kate in Harry’s memoir ‘Spare’.
Among these were insinuations that she was cold towards Meghan Markle.
Sources close to William suggest that Harry’s actions remain a sensitive subject, with one stating: “William is unlikely to forgive Harry any time soon for his slights against Kate in Spare, among them the suggestion she was cold towards Meghan. Those close to William say his brother rarely comes up in conversation.”
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