Growing up, Prince William and Prince Harry were very close, not just as brothers but also as friends. The same bond extended to Harry and Kate Middleton. However, this strong relationship once thought unbreakable, began to falter after Harry married former Suits actress Meghan Markle.
In their book Finding Freedom, authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand suggest that Meghan felt Kate was not as welcoming as she had hoped.
Although Kate was expected to take Meghan under her wing, given her experience as a newcomer to the royal family, their relationship didn’t progress much beyond what it had been when Meghan was just Harry’s girlfriend.
Meghan had hoped for more support from Kate, especially during challenging times with the press, but she didn’t lose sleep over the lack of closeness.
Despite the distance between Meghan and Kate, Harry and Kate shared a strong bond. Harry had a special nickname for Kate, which she mentioned during a BBC Radio 1 interview, though she wasn’t particularly attached to it.
Kate and Harry first met in 2003 at Highgrove, and their friendship blossomed early on. Kate admitted that she was shy when they first met, but they quickly became close friends. Harry and Kate were known for their playful and fun relationship, with friends noting that they always tried to make each other laugh.
During a period when William and Kate took a break, Harry and Prince Charles reportedly encouraged William to be honest with other women he dated, ultimately supporting his reunion with Kate.
Despite the current tensions between William and Harry, Kate hopes the brothers can reconcile. Royal expert Christopher Andersen believes Kate could play a key role in this reconciliation.
However, he also notes that Kate’s loyalty to William could be a significant obstacle. While Kate would love to see the brothers make amends, she understands William’s lingering frustrations and isn’t likely to pressure him, especially given the challenges they both face.
