The ongoing tensions between Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their royal relatives appear to show no signs of improvement, as a recent account has revealed a particularly emotional moment for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
According to reports, Meghan Markle was “reduced to tears” by a Buckingham Palace statement, which seemingly further strained her relationship with Prince William, her brother-in-law.
Prince Harry was left “furious” after learning about the joint statement, which he claims was issued without his knowledge or consent.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who have stepped back from their royal duties and now reside in California, have been embroiled in a complex and often painful relationship with the rest of the royal family.
In particular, the once-close bond between Prince Harry and his older brother, Prince William, has been severely damaged, with the tension only escalating after Meghan married into the royal family.
The recent revelation came to light through the couple’s docuseries Harry & Meghan, in which the couple recalled a flashpoint that left Meghan heartbroken and Harry enraged.
The incident reportedly involved a joint palace statement that was released following allegations that Prince William had “bullied” the Sussexes out of the royal family—a claim Harry said was addressed without his permission.
In the Harry & Meghan docuseries, Prince Harry reflects on a specific day that he believes became a turning point in his relationship with Prince William.
At the time, rumors were swirling in the media about the reasons behind Harry and Meghan’s departure from royal life, and one narrative suggested that Prince William had bullied them out of the family.
Harry explained that the joint palace statement issued to quash the story—one that was supposedly put out in both his and William’s names—caught him off guard.
“The saddest part of it was this wedge created between me and my brother so that he’s now on the institution’s side,” Harry shared.
The prince went on to say that while he understood part of William’s position, given that his older brother is the heir to the throne, he could not accept how things unfolded.
“I get, part of that I get. I understand right? That’s his inheritance, so to some extent it’s already ingrained in him that part of his responsibility is the survivability and the continuation of this institution,” Harry said, referring to William’s future role as king and his deep commitment to the monarchy.
However, the breaking point for Harry came when he discovered that a joint statement had been released without his permission.
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“A story came out that part of the reason why Meghan and I were leaving was because William had bullied us out,” Harry explained.
“And once I got in the car after the meeting, I was told about a joint statement that had been put out in my name and my brother’s name squashing the story about him bullying us out of the family.”
Harry was taken aback by the situation, as he had not been asked for his approval or consulted on the matter. The unauthorized statement struck a chord with the prince, who expressed his disbelief and frustration.
“I couldn’t believe it. No one had asked me permission to put my name to a statement like that,” Harry revealed.
The news of the statement’s release had an immediate and deeply emotional impact on Meghan Markle. According to Harry, when he shared the information with his wife, she “burst into floods of tears.”
For Meghan, the pain stemmed from the perceived double standard in how the royal family handled different members of the institution.
Harry recalled that Meghan was particularly hurt by what she saw as the palace’s willingness to “lie to protect” William while refusing to defend her and Harry against damaging rumors and misinformation.
“Within four hours, they were happy to lie to protect my brother, and yet for three years, they were never willing to tell the truth to protect us,” Harry said in the documentary.
This discrepancy, in Meghan’s view, highlighted the extent to which the couple felt unsupported and sidelined by the royal institution.
This incident is one of many that has contributed to the ongoing feud between Prince Harry and Prince William.
The brothers, once known for their close bond and united front following the death of their mother, Princess Diana, have seen their relationship deteriorate significantly in recent years.
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Their falling out reportedly began around the time Meghan entered Harry’s life, with reports suggesting that William was initially concerned about the speed of Harry and Meghan’s relationship.
As the Sussexes began to forge their own path and eventually announced their decision to step back from royal duties, the tensions between the brothers deepened.
Their lives now look very different, with William continuing his role as a senior working royal, preparing for his eventual ascension to the throne, and Harry building a new life in the United States with Meghan and their two children, Archie and Lilibet.
While the exact details of their private conversations remain unknown, public statements and revelations in interviews and documentaries have painted a picture of an increasingly fractured relationship.
In his tell-all memoir Spare, Harry offered further insight into the rift, describing moments of conflict and misunderstanding between himself and William.
As Harry and Meghan continue to live independently of the royal family, the distance between them and the institution seems unlikely to be bridged anytime soon.
The couple has spoken candidly about their struggles within the monarchy, their desire for more control over their lives, and their hope to protect their children from the pressures of royal life.
For their part, the royal family has largely remained silent on the specifics of the accusations made by Harry and Meghan, adhering to their long-standing approach of avoiding public comment on private matters.
However, the strain on the family is evident, and the prospect of reconciliation between Harry and William seems far from certain.
As the world watches the ongoing saga unfold, it remains to be seen whether the two brothers will ever fully repair their relationship or if the rift will continue to define their interactions moving forward.
