Prince William And Kate Had Different Reactions To Prince Harry’s Royal Exit

While the Princess of Wales reportedly viewed his departure as inevitable, her husband was said to be deeply saddened by it.

Meanwhile, former royal aide Paul Burrell claims the divide between Prince Harry’s family and the royal family has widened, affecting even King Charles’ relationship with the duke’s children.

A new book is shedding light on how the Prince and Princess of Wales privately responded to Prince Harry’s dramatic departure from royal duties in 2020, and it suggests their reactions were far from identical.

In “William and Catherine: The Monarchy’s New Era: The Inside Story,” set for release on March 10, royal correspondent Russell Myers explores the emotional aftermath of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s decision to step back from their senior royal roles.

When Harry and Meghan Markle announced they would divide their time between the United Kingdom and North America while pursuing financial independence, it sent shockwaves through the monarchy and the world at large.

According to People Magazine, an excerpt published revealed that Kate reportedly took a more supportive view of Harry’s choice.

Myers writes that she “had less interest than her husband in trying to persuade Harry to stay in his current role.”

She is said to have believed that the long-standing dynamic between “the heir and the spare” made Harry’s dissatisfaction almost inevitable, that his role would never feel equal or expansive enough.

By contrast, William was described as “intensely saddened at his brother’s decision to quit.”

The two had already grown apart over time, but Harry’s final break signaled a point of no return.

Myers wrote that “Fond memories of their childhood, from helping each other through the tragedy of their mother’s death, to growing up in the public eye, were now tarnished by the division at the heart of the family.”

Following their departure, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex settled in California, where they are raising their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

While Harry and Meghan initially expressed a wish to support the monarchy in a modified capacity, discussions at the Sandringham summit, convened by Queen Elizabeth II, made it clear that a hybrid “half-in, half-out” arrangement would not be possible.

In the years since, tensions have remained evident between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family.

Although Harry met with his father, King Charles III, as recently as September 2025, his relationship with William appears unresolved, with reports claiming that reconciliation between the siblings is highly unlikely.

Public interviews, a Netflix docuseries, and Harry’s “Spare” memoir further exposed grievances, while further worsening the fracture.

Royal expert Paul Burrell, who once served Princess Diana, recently noted that the divide between the Sussexes and the royal family, particularly the Waleses, may be even worse than the public realizes.

Speaking to Fox News Digital, Burrell suggested that William has intentionally created more distance from his younger brother in recent years, and he doubts the two will reconcile anytime soon, if at all.

According to Burrell, William’s increasing proximity to the throne has shaped his approach. As heir, he must operate within a tightly controlled environment, safeguarding both his role and the institution.

“He can’t let things leak out,” said Burrell. “He doesn’t want to live in a world with a leaky sieve. He doesn’t want to live in a world that can’t be controlled because, to be a monarch, you have to control the environment. You have to look after the crown.”

Burrell also suggested that the ongoing rift has taken an emotional toll on Charles III, particularly when it comes to his relationship with Harry’s children.

According to Burrell, the king is said to feel deep sadness over the limited time he has spent with Archie and Lilibet, who are growing up in Montecito, California.

Living thousands of miles from the U.K., the children are largely removed from the royal environment that shaped their father’s upbringing.

“It’s sad for Archie and Lilibet, who will never know that world. Their father came from that world, and they will never know their cousins and the people who populate that world,” Burrell said. “It’s sad for the king, who can’t embrace all his grandchildren at the same time. He can’t put his arms around Archie and Lilibet the same way that he can around [William’s children] George, Charlotte, and Louis. I think he’s very sad.”

Reflecting on the family divide, Burrell added that Princess Diana would likely have been distressed to see her sons estranged and living on separate continents, separated not just by circumstance but by an ocean.