Prince Harry and Prince William are in the spotlight yet again for their complex relationship- or lack thereof.
Their once tight bond now seems beyond repair, with the “Heir” and “Spare” more divided than ever before. In fact, according to Prince Harry, the two haven’t been on speaking terms in years, despite the Duke of Sussex’s pleas to reconnect.
While it’s easy to point the finger at Meghan Markle, while casting her as the conniving villain who is trying to isolate Harry from his loved ones, it’s important that we look at the bigger picture here. Although the Duchess of Sussex does have a hand in the rift, to suggest she’s the sole reason behind Prince Harry and Prince William’s ongoing feud is unfair. Here’s why.
Prince Harry and Prince William Were Each Other’s “Arch Nemesis’” From The Very Beginning
Long before anyone had even heard of the name Meghan Markle, Harry and William have been quietly feuding. According to Harry in his revealing memoir, “Spare”, he and his older brother have always shared a very “competitive” relationship, where they’d try to one-up each other at any cost. While it’s normal for brothers to not get along all the time, Harry and William had the added tension of royal titles. William was the “Heir” of the throne, while Harry was cast as the “Spare.” AKA, the one who was there to provide a kidney or bone marrow for his brother in case anything were to happen to the future king. This, of course, does something to your psyche, especially when it’s ingrained at such a young age.
The Duke of Sussex explained in his 2023 memoir that this had turned his “beloved brother” into his “arch nemesis” as well. “In some ways, he was my mirror, in some ways he was my opposite,” Harry wrote of William. “My beloved brother, my arch nemesis, how had that happened?”
He continued, writing, “The Heir and the Spare-there was no judgment about it, but also no ambiguity. I was the shadow, the support, the Plan B.” Harry elaborated on how much this made him feel like an afterthought compared to William. “I was summoned to provide backup, distraction, diversion, and, if necessary, a spare part. Kidney, perhaps. Blood transfusion. Speck of bone marrow. This was all made explicitly clear to me from the start of life’s journey and regularly reinforced thereafter.”
The Duchess of Sussex Is Only A Small Part In A Much Bigger Equation
There was already a lifelong rift between Harry and William, so it puts way too much
blame and responsibility on Meghan Markle as the sole reason behind Harry and William’s relationship issues. Royal commentator Amanda Matta summarizes this best, saying, “The tensions within the family run much deeper than any one woman’s influence.” Matta added, “The cracks were already there. If anything, Meghan’s presence helped Harry process and articulate the ways in which the institution had already failed him.”
While it’s true Meghan Markle might have posed as the final straw in the rift between the royal brothers, to solely point fingers at the Duchess of Sussex is completely unwarranted when tensions have been brewing long before she was ever in the picture.
