The relationship between Prince William and Prince Harry is reportedly at an all-time low.
Despite this, it appears the brothers tried to resolve their differences and address Harry and Meghan's struggles with Royal life before things escalated. However, a book reveals that a proposed heart-to-heart meeting was rejected by Harry in just two words.
Prince Harry first hinted at a feud during a 2019 interview on his and Meghan's South African tour, months before they stepped back from Royal duties.
He told ITV's Tom Bradby about "struggling" behind the scenes and revealed their brotherly bond had "good days" and "bad days".
According to the book Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown, after the interview aired, William tried to reach out to Harry. Initially, Harry seemed open to the idea but later declined due to fears the meeting would be leaked by Royal staff.
Author Valentine Low shared: "The day after the documentary aired, William WhatsApped his brother to ask if he could come and see him. Initially, Harry was in favour.
"Then he spoke to his brother again and asked him whom he would tell. William explained that he'd have to clear his schedule, which would mean telling his private secretary.
"At that point, Harry told him: Don't come. He was so concerned that William's team would leak the visit to the Press that he would rather not see his brother than risk it getting into the papers."
The book reveals that this failure to meet face-to-face was "heart-breaking" for those close to both brothers. It also highlights how some members of The Firm found it difficult to communicate directly due to high levels of scrutiny.
The relationship between William and Harry has been strained for a while, despite their closeness during their younger years. The tension reportedly started before Harry's wedding to former Suits star, Meghan, with Harry accusing William of being snobbish towards his bride.
However, things got worse after the late Queen's death, following the accusations Harry made against his brother in his memoir, Spare, and his Netflix documentary.
In his autobiography, released just months after Elizabeth II's death, Harry accused William of physically attacking him and pushing him into a dog bowl during an argument over Meghan.
In their Netflix series, Harry and Meghan made claims that Kensington Palace had told fibs to protect William, denying a story that he had bullied Harry out of the Royal family.
Harry also shared how his dad Charles had a serious chat with him and William after Prince Philip's funeral, pleading: "Please, boys. Don't make my final years a misery."
On the first anniversary of the Queen's passing, both Harry and William were in the UK. Harry flew over from his home in California for a charity awards ceremony.
But, he didn't meet up with William or his dad, King Charles. Instead, he paid his respects to his grandma alone at Windsor Castle while William and Charles were far away in Wales and Scotland.
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