Prince Harry and Kate Middleton’s relationship has deteriorated significantly since the Duke of Sussex stepped down from royal duties and relocated to California with his wife, Meghan Markle. Despite Kate Middleton’s ongoing battle with cancer, insiders believe this significant health challenge is not enough to mend the rift between the two.
Royal commentator Emily Andrews painted a bleak picture of their current relationship. “What has kept her going are her family and friends rallying round,” Andrews wrote. “Though sadly, the same can’t be said for her brother-in-law, who she was once close to. Now she’s faced with her darkest days, where has Harry been?”
The fissure in their relationship reportedly began when Harry and Meghan exited the royal family in 2020, an event that has since been compounded by a series of critical comments made by the couple about the monarchy. This includes the explosive Oprah interview, their Netflix docuseries, and Harry’s memoir, “Spare.” The public airing of grievances has seemingly widened the gap, making reconciliation increasingly unlikely.
Harry’s move to list the United States as his official residence on June 29, 2023, coinciding with the date Buckingham Palace confirmed the Sussexes had vacated Frogmore Cottage, has been seen by some as a symbolic gesture. “It’s very interesting that Prince Harry chose to date his official US residency on the day he was kicked out of Frogmore Cottage,” Andrews observed on Sky News Australia’s Royal Report, via Express.
In a February interview on “Good Morning America,” Harry was asked about his life in the U.S. and whether he felt American. He responded, “It’s amazing. I love every single day.” However, he laughed off the idea of feeling fully American, saying, “Do I feel American? Um, no. I don’t know how I feel.”
Kate Middleton, dealing with her cancer diagnosis, has relied heavily on a close circle of friends and family. According to OK! Magazine, Harry and Meghan have been following Kate’s recovery with interest from afar. “Both Harry and Meghan have been following Kate’s recovery with huge interest, but, sadly, it’s had to be more from afar because their lines of communication with the palace and the Waleses, in particular, are very limited,” a source disclosed. Despite sending well-wishes, the Sussexes’ efforts to connect have reportedly gone largely unreciprocated.
Royal commentator Christopher Andersen suggested that Prince William and King Charles are too preoccupied with their health issues to address the ongoing feud with Harry. “The King and the Princess of Wales’s cancer battles have made it easier for both King Charles III and Prince William to put Harry out of their minds,” Andersen told an outlet. “They are both shunning him now because they can’t afford not to – they simply can’t handle the distraction.”
Andersen added, “Charles and Harry aren’t speaking, period. The fallout from ‘Spare‘ has been eclipsed by Kate’s and the king’s cancer battles. King Charles and William haven’t got the time to worry about whether Harry would take more potshots at them. Harry has already gotten the message that there are consequences for his attacks on the royals; his entire family has turned its back on him.”
The deterioration of Harry and Kate’s relationship can be traced back to events leading up to Harry and Meghan’s wedding in 2018. According to Harry’s memoir, Kate and Meghan had a disagreement over Princess Charlotte’s flower girl dress, which left Meghan in tears. Although Kate later sent Meghan flowers and a card to apologize, the relationship between the couples never fully recovered.
Despite the ongoing challenges, both Harry and Kate continue to navigate their respective roles and responsibilities, albeit on very different paths. As Kate battles cancer with the support of her immediate family, Harry’s life in the U.S. with Meghan remains focused on their new ventures and public engagements, leaving little room for reconciliation with his estranged royal relatives.