Together, Prince William and Prince Harry have endured a lot, especially after the untimely death of their mother, Princess Diana, and have always been there for each other.
But after Harry and Meghan’s royal exit and everything that followed, things changed completely, William and Harry don’t even communicate anymore.
Unlike his older brother, who was ready to take the kingdom in the future, Harry always felt like a “substitute” in the royal family, as the title of his book suggests. It is unclear whether the two will ever reconcile, but it is clear that their father, King Charles, has no other desires.
Harry has written extensively about his early years at Spare, but there is some ambiguity in his mother’s assessment of his early relationship with William. We now have a better understanding of Harry and William’s connection thanks to recently revealed letters from Princess Diana, which also leave us saddened by what could have been.
The brothers’ early years were wonderful. Although their mother, Princess Diana, didn’t always follow royal protocol, she ultimately tried to give her children the most typical upbringing possible.
The early years of Prince William and Prince Harry
The relationship between William and Harry was not always so strained. In reality, they were two devoted brothers brought together by tragedy. They can never truly understand the pain of losing their mother when they were young.
The princes met to discuss their mother in 2017, the 20th anniversary of Diana’s death.
One word best describes their conversation: love.
When people say “She was funny”, please give an example. Her laughter is all I can hear,” Harry explained.
She was one of the meanest parents; she came to watch us play soccer and sneak candies into our socks. She would literally carry five bags of candy after a football game. Plus, the entire outfit was covered in candy.
“We felt incredibly loved and I’m very grateful that he still feels that love,” William continued. “It feels like a good time to remember her and hopefully provide a different side.”
“It was that love, even though it was across the room, as her son you could feel it,” Harry continued.
Growing up in a royal family must be a unique experience. Of course, there will always be money, but life is also about duties and responsibilities.
The bond between Prince William and Prince Harry is shown by a recently found letter from Diana.
How much of a “normal” upbringing William and Harry had with their mother is difficult to determine. An ancient letter written by Princess Diana has recently surfaced, providing a beautiful insight into William and Harry’s early years. Besides, the two have had a really close relationship since their early years.
Six months after the birth of her youngest son, Harry, Diana sent a letter in March 1985.
According to GB News, she wrote: “William loves his little brother and spends all his time giving Harry tons of hugs and kisses.”
The then-elderly Prince Harry was “constantly in trouble” at school, Princess Diana revealed in further letters. She also described the “difficult time” she is facing in life, as well as the joys of being a mother.
Princess Diana often took William and Harry to theme parks and other fun places. However, she was also aware of the demands of royal life, such as the constant serving of meals.
Despite being royalty, she understood how important it was for William and Harry to be like any other child. In light of this, she sometimes took them out of the castle for a quick meal.
Darren McGrady, Diana’s former personal chef, told Marie Claire: “I remember the princess coming into the kitchen one day and saying, ‘Cancel the boys’ lunch, I’m taking them out, we’re going to McDonald’s.’
“Oh my God, Your Royal Highness, I can do it, I can do hamburgers,” I said. “No, it’s the toy they want,” she added.
Prince Harry recalled the moment he learned of Diana’s death.
The whole country was shocked by the death of Princess Diana, and her children William and Harry were left motherless.
Although the princess was mourned by millions, it was her family that was affected the most.
Harry recounted the moment he learned of his mother’s death in his book Spare. “Honey, Mom was in a car accident,” he said as he remembered his father sitting next to his bed.
“There were problems. “Honey,” Harry remembered his father saying, “Mum was taken to the hospital after suffering serious injuries.
“He used to call me ‘sweetie’ but he’s been using it a lot lately. He spoke softly. He looked stunned.
“With a head injury. They tried, dear boy.”
She didn’t make it, I’m afraid.
The prince went on to claim that Charles “didn’t hug him” despite putting his hand on his knee and reassuring him that everything would be fine.
“Everyone knows where they were and what they were doing the night my mother died,” Harry said.
“I cried at a funeral once and you know I go into detail about how weird it was and how there was actually some guilt that I felt, and I think William felt as well when I was walking outside Kensington Palace.
“I don’t think any child should be asked to do that.”
“Our mother got 50,000 bouquets and there we were shaking hands and smiling,” he said. “Yes, I’ve seen the movies; I’ve been through them all. We were shaking and couldn’t figure out why their hands were wet, but it was because they were wiping away all the tears.”
When the procession arrived at Westminster Abbey, Harry and William followed Diana’s coffin. Harry later criticized the choice to let two young boys, aged 12 and 15, walk through London in front of everyone.
“My mother had just died and I had to walk a long way behind her casket, surrounded by thousands of people watching me while millions more watched on TV,” he told Newsweek in 2017. “I don’t believe that any child should be expected, that he will do it today.
In addition to becoming a place for people to mourn and remember Diana, the Pont de l’Alma tunnel where her car crashed has also become a tourist destination of sorts. Harry decided to follow the path his mother took that night in 1997 and visit the tunnel in 2007.
The duke instructed the driver to take him to the tunnel on his first night in the French capital after receiving an invitation to Paris for the semi-finals of the Ruby World Cup.
Harry said, “I always imagined the tunnel as some sort of treacherous passageway, inherently dangerous, but it was just a short, simple tunnel with no frills.”
Diana died, and if she was still alive, the conflict between Prince William and Prince Harry might not be as serious as it is now.
In “Spare,” Prince Harry revealed a physical altercation with his brother.
William was not pleased when Harry and his wife Meghan Markle left the royal family.
But when Harry published his book Spare, the conflict between the royal family and the Suss*xes reached its zenith.
Harry attacked almost every senior member of the royal family, even sharing details of one of his most intense arguments with William.
In 2019, it was held at his home in London.
Harry claimed he had a physical fight with William. William has been accused by the Duke of calling his wife Meghan “harsh”, “rude” and “difficult”, which Harry described as “parroting the story in the press”.
As things got worse, Harry explained how William “grabbed me by the collar, ripped my necklace off, and… knocked me to the floor.”
“He put the water down and screamed at me and then attacked me. It all happened so fast. So fast. I was knocked to the ground after he grabbed my collar and ripped the necklace. I landed on the dog’s bowl and pieces were cutting into me, when they parted under my back as I lay there in a trance for a moment, I got up and called for him to leave,” Harry wrote.
The Duke then spoke of their childhood feud and how William made him hit back. The future king left after Harry refused, then returned “regretfully and apologetically”. Harry claimed that his back was obviously injured. Whether Harry and William will ever reconcile is still up in the air. However, as of now, it’s clear that “Battle of the Brothers” is still going strong.
The ongoing conflict between Prince William and Prince Harry has drawn public attention for years, especially after their strained relationship following Harry’s retirement from royal duties. While their early years were filled with affection and shared grief over their mother’s tragic death, the brothers have since drifted apart, largely due to personal and professional differences.
Newly revealed letters from Princess Diana offer a poignant reminder of the deep bond they once shared. Diana’s words reveal a loving, playful relationship between the brothers that contrasts sharply with their current situation. It is clear that Diana aimed to give her sons a semblance of normality between their royal duties, but the pressures and expectations of the royal family, combined with personal issues, contributed to a deepening rift between William and Harry.
Despite the deep hurt caused by their differences, especially after Harry’s *Spare* memoir, there are still moments that hint at a desire for reconciliation. However, the public exposure of this intimate family dynamic complicates their ability to repair their relationship in private. With the fallout from Harry’s book and the continued tension surrounding Meghan Markle’s role, it seems the “Battle of the Brothers” is far from over.
The discovery of Princess Diana’s letters and Harry’s memories of his mother’s death provide a bittersweet glimpse into the past and show how much the brothers have changed over the years. It’s tragic to think how the bond their mother once fostered has now been overshadowed by the complexities of royal life and personal grievances. Whether they will ever find common ground remains uncertain, but for now, it is clear that the distance between Prince William and Prince Harry continues to grow.