The British royal family was once seen as a tightly-knit unit, with Prince William and Harry often viewed as inseparable. However, that image slowly unraveled over the years, particularly after Prince Harry’s marriage to Meghan Markle.

While the public may hold out hope for a reconciliation, those close to the royals suggest that the possibility is more uncertain than ever. What are the issues standing in the way of a royal reunion? The reported answer reveals much about the ongoing divide.

How Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Relationship with the Royal Family Frayed Over Time

The tensions between Prince Harry and the royal family, particularly with his brother, Prince William, have been brewing for years. What started as a family bond between two brothers grew into a deep rift, complicated by personal, familial, and public pressures.

In 2019, it became increasingly clear that the relationship between Prince Harry and the rest of the royal family, especially his brother, had reached a breaking point.

This was a particularly difficult year for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as the couple dealt with relentless media scrutiny and the emotional toll it took on them.

Meghan openly admitted that she had experienced extreme emotional distress due to constant criticism from the British tabloids, which had a “race element,” according to Prince Harry.

Prince Harry, recalling the trauma of losing his mother, Princess Diana, at such a young age, said, “Yes, I feared, I feared a lot that the end result, the fact that I lost my mum when I was 12 years old, could easily happen again to my wife.”

By the end of that year, it was clear the brothers were on increasingly different paths. Tensions between them had reached a head, and Prince Harry described a specific incident at his Kensington Palace cottage that made it evident how deep the divide had grown.

According to Prince Harry, during a heated argument in early 2019, Prince William became so frustrated that he physically attacked his younger brother. This confrontation, which allegedly escalated from a shouting match into physical aggression, ended with Prince Harry being knocked to the floor, where he landed on a dog bowl.

For the Duke of Sussex, the argument wasn’t simply a clash between brothers, but a defense of his wife, as Prince William’s frustrations were directed toward Meghan.

Prince William, as his brother described it, had been influenced by certain members of his office and consumed by the tabloid press’s portrayal of Meghan. The British media’s focus on her background — her being American, biracial, divorced, and an actress — only exacerbated the royal family’s initial unease.

Prince Harry felt that many of the stories Prince William believed were unfounded, yet they contributed to the increasing animosity between the two brothers.

When Prince Harry first introduced Meghan to the royal family in 2016, the initial reaction was not as warm as he had hoped. While King Charles III, then the Prince of Wales, appeared to like Meghan, Prince William remained skeptical.

He reportedly referred to her dismissively as “an American actress.” As time passed, the brothers grew more distant. By the time Meghan and Prince Harry decided to step back from their royal duties in early 2020, it became clear that the rift had deepened considerably.

The Sussexes’ departure from royal life shocked the public and reportedly blindsided Prince William, further fueling his frustrations. The brothers, once seen as inseparable after their mother’s tragic death, were now leading vastly different lives.