Prince William’s once-close bond with his younger brother Prince Harry appears to be damaged beyond repair — and the biggest reason isn’t personal attacks or royal rivalry. According to royal insiders, it’s the hurt inflicted on Kate Middleton that William just can’t forgive.
Despite countless attempts from palace aides and family members to encourage reconciliation, insiders say William is still deeply wounded by the way Harry dragged Kate into his memoir Spare, leaving emotional scars that have yet to fade.
Royal expert Kinsey Schofield told OK! Magazine that William’s pain runs far deeper than headlines or personal jabs. “His pain doesn’t come from personal insults or tabloid drama. It comes from his instinct to protect the woman he loves,” she explained.
Schofield noted that the future king was especially hurt by how his wife, the Princess of Wales, was portrayed in Harry’s book. “What cuts the deepest is Harry’s treatment of Catherine. She’s always loved him, always treated him like a little brother,” Schofield added. “That’s the betrayal William won’t forget.”
And she’s not alone in that belief. Royal commentator Helena Chard echoed the sentiment, highlighting the special bond Kate once shared with Harry. “They used to be so close – always giggling and whispering at public engagements. She truly saw him as a younger brother,” Chard said. “So for her to be dragged into that public negativity was a smack in the face.”
The source of William’s anger centers on Harry’s revelation about a pre-wedding disagreement between Kate and Meghan. In Spare, Harry claims that Kate was upset over Princess Charlotte’s flower girl dress, insisting it was “too big,” which led to Charlotte crying and Meghan being left in tears.
Harry wrote that Meghan offered a solution by suggesting a visit to the palace tailor, but Kate allegedly insisted all six dresses be remade. The drama reportedly caused Meghan to cry, though Kate later apologized with flowers and a note.
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While Harry may have felt he was setting the record straight, William reportedly saw it as an unprovoked betrayal of someone who always stood by Harry.
Kate had tried to act as a peacemaker between the feuding brothers for years, but sources now say she has taken a firm step back. With her recent health battles and a renewed focus on family, insiders say Kate no longer has the energy or desire to mediate between William and Harry.
As for William, those close to him say he sees the situation as far more than a family squabble. “He has always protected Kate fiercely, and he views this not just as a breach of trust — but as a direct attack on her,” one insider revealed.
Despite Harry’s past closeness to his sister-in-law, sources suggest he’s given little thought to the consequences of his revelations, leaving William feeling blindsided and betrayed.
It’s a heartbreaking turn for two brothers who once stood shoulder to shoulder through the darkest moments of their lives. But according to those closest to the Prince of Wales, it’s Harry’s treatment of Kate — not Meghan, not the monarchy — that may have driven the final wedge between them.
And as one royal source bluntly put it, “William might one day forgive Harry for hurting him — but he’ll never forget how he hurt Kate.”
