Why did Prince Harry and Prince William fall out? The royal feud explained

PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle’s return to live in the UK and enrol their children into British schools has brought a royal feud back into sharp focus. While King Charles has welcomed his son following a quiet reunion at Highgrove, royal fans are speculating that Prince William will likely be furious over his brother’s comeback. The brothers began drifting apart shortly after Harry met Meghan Markle Credit: AP Harry alleged in his memoir that William called Meghan ‘difficult’, ‘rude’, and ‘abrasive’ Credit: Reuters What happened? Once united by the loss of their mother, Princess Diana, the brothers began drifting apart shortly after Harry met Meghan Markle. Early friction reared its head in 2018 when William reportedly advised Harry not to rush into the relationship, causing Harry to accuse his brother of trying to wreck the romance. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! By 2019, after splitting their royal household and joint charity, tensions boiled over during a confrontation at Kensington Palace. Harry later alleged in his memoir Spare that William called Meghan “difficult”, “rude”, and “abrasive” before knocking him to the floor. Read More on Harry and Meghan The final breach came in 2020 with “Megxit,” when the Sussexes stepped down as senior working royals following the Sandringham Summit and relocated to California to pursue commercial independence. In the years following, the rift deepened as the Sussexes released a series of tell-all media projects targeting the Royal Family. It began with their explosive 2021 Oprah interview, where the couple alleged racism within royal ranks and claimed Meghan was denied mental health support, prompting the late Queen Elizabeth II‘s famous response that “recollections may vary.” The fallout escalated in 2022 with their multi-million-dollar Netflix docuseries criticising palace operations, which drew widespread backlash over Meghan’s mock curtsy. Most read in The Sun By 2023, Harry delivered another blow with his memoir Spare, launching direct attacks on Queen Camilla – labelling her “dangerous” – while exposing intimate details of private rows with William and Princess Kate. Where the monarchy stands With the Sussexes soon to be back on UK soil in private accommodation while continuing private business ventures, the Royal Family is divided on how to manage their presence. King Charles III reportedly remains receptive to the move, keen to spend time with his now UK-based grandchildren and host private family reunions. In stark contrast, it’s believed that Prince William is firmly opposed, remaining angry over past attacks on Kate and viewing his brother’s return as a major disruption to royal stability. Meanwhile, key royals like Princess Anne and Duchess Sophie are reportedly approaching the situation with caution, and may reject any “half-in, half-out” hybrid roles that risk commercialising royal status. Is reconciliation out of reach? Prince William’s main focus has been supporting Kate through her cancer recovery while carrying the weight of royal duties during King Charles’s own ongoing health battles. Brits remain divided over the comeback. Recent YouGov polling revealed just 21% support their return to the UK, while 33% oppose it, and 45% are undecided. Older generations are particularly resistant, with 57% of over-65s against the move. Harry continues his work with UK patronages like WellChild and the Invictus Games, but royal experts say a true royal reconciliation may be off the table. With the brothers living on the same turf once again, avoiding each other will prove difficult, but William’s door is expected to remain firmly shut. Comment now