Fallout from tension between royal brothersPrince Williamand Prince Harry continues to ripple across the royal family, from seating to staffing to Christmas plans, as Harry and wifeMeghan Markleannounced they willnot be spending the holiday with the royal familyat Sandringham this year.
UK Press/GEtty
Adding to the troubles was the 2017 departure of the Queen’s longstanding private secretary Christopher Geidt, who had long smoothed over any grievances between the boys and the rest of the family, particularly their fatherPrince Charles, with whom William and Harry have a complex relationship. An unflappable palace courtier, Geidt “really had the boys’ backs,” says a friend in this week’s cover story. He also offered them a side channel around their dad.
“There is a lot of hurt and a lot of unresolved issues between the boys,” says the friend, “and no one to help mediate.” What’s more, “petty grievances can become huge conflicts between all the different royal offices if they aren’t managed correctly, and that’s exactly what’s happening now.”
Prince William, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton on November 11, 2018.Paul Grover- WPA Pool/Getty
A royal source emphasizes that any change in the brothers’ relationship is merely a result of the new chapters in their lives. “As is often the case in any family, when one of your siblings gets married, there’s always a period of readjustment,” says the source. “People have new priorities and different focuses.”
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At the same time, William and Kate, both 37, are moving further into their future roles as King and Queen. It’s no coincidence that the division comes asQueen Elizabeth, 93, hands off many of her duties to her heir,Prince Charles, 71, with William sliding in behind him.
“William is the future King. There is going to be some competitiveness between him and Harry,” says the source. “That already puts a rock in the relationship.”
Simon Perry
source: people.com
