Date of Prince William and Prince Harry’s rift revealed – much earlier than royal fans believe

Prince Harry’s public acknowledgment of a rift with his brother, Prince William, was first made in the 2019 documentary “Harry & Meghan: An African Journey.” However, experts suggest that the estrangement between the two brothers began much earlier than that. By the time Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sat down for their interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, it was evident that his relationship with Prince William had significantly deteriorated.

During this interview, Harry and Meghan made several explosive claims, including accusations that a member of the Royal Family had expressed racist concerns regarding their unborn child’s skin color. Meghan also revealed that she had experienced suicidal thoughts during her time in the Royal Family, alleging that the institution tried to silence her, refused to protect her and Harry, and lied to protect other family members. These allegations reportedly enraged Prince William and underscored the deep divide that had grown between the once-close brothers.

Prince Harry first hinted at a falling out with William in October 2019, during the ITV documentary “Harry & Meghan: An African Journey.” In the documentary, Harry acknowledged the pressure their family faced and admitted that they were on “different paths” but emphasized that they would always be brothers. However, according to royal author Robert Lacey, the fracture between the brothers occurred long before this interview. In his book “Battle of the Brothers,” Lacey claims that Harry and William were no longer on speaking terms even before Harry and Meghan embarked on their royal tour of Australia in October 2018, which was just five months after their wedding.

The root of the conflict, according to Lacey, was allegations of bullying against Meghan Markle, which both she and Prince Harry have consistently denied. William reportedly became aware of claims that Meghan had bullied palace staff members. After an unsuccessful phone call to discuss the matter with Harry, William allegedly decided to cut ties with his brother.

Lacey notes that William’s decision to “throw Harry out” came after his frustration with Meghan’s alleged behavior toward the staff. In “Battle of the Brothers,” Lacey quotes a Kensington Palace courtier who described Meghan as someone who “portrayed herself as the victim but was the bully.” The courtier further claimed that Meghan’s behavior left staff feeling “run over” and described her as a “complete narcissist and sociopath,” suggesting she was “basically unhinged.”

These allegations of bullying surfaced in March 2021 when The Times reported that Meghan had bullied two staff members out of Kensington Palace. The publication stated that a formal complaint was filed against Meghan in October 2018, five months after her marriage to Prince Harry.

Jason Knauf, who served as communications secretary to Harry and Meghan, allegedly claimed that Meghan “drove two personal assistants out of the household and was undermining the confidence of a third staff member.” According to The Times, Knauf sent an email to Prince William’s then-private secretary, Simon Case, seeking to protect the staff who were reportedly facing “unbearable pressure” from Meghan.

The article also claimed that Prince Harry had “pleaded” with Knauf not to proceed with the allegations, a claim which Harry and Meghan’s lawyer later denied. Shortly thereafter, Meghan released a statement denying all accusations of bullying, alleging that she was the target of a “calculated smear campaign.”

The ongoing tensions between the brothers were further highlighted in the aftermath of these revelations. As the public and media continued to speculate on the state of Harry and William’s relationship, it became clear that the once inseparable siblings were no longer in contact.

The rift, which many believed was a recent development, appears to have started much earlier than previously thought, with deep-rooted issues stemming from differing perspectives on their roles within the royal family and personal disagreements. As royal watchers and experts continue to analyze the dynamics between the two, the future of their relationship remains uncertain, with no clear resolution in sight.