Royal expert Robert Lacy suggested in an interview that Harry’s relationship with Meghan was the tipping point for the brothers’ feud. His book, Battle of Brothers, took an inside look into the rift between William and Harry, claiming their fallout was in part over Meghan. The author has also claimed the Duke’s relationship was already strained for some time over duties and their childhood.
Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Mr Lacy claimed Meghan and Harry’s relationship was the final straw for the brothers.
He said: “I would say that there were stresses and strains there before and then with the advent of Meghan, that was what provoked the really big break.
“William, from all the turmoil of their childhood, took strength from the idea of his duty and what lay ahead for him as king … Harry caught onto the importance of love.
“So, when he found Meghan, he went for that, and when William said to him, ‘Look, perhaps you should slow down a bit,’ Harry exploded.”
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Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand previously claimed in their book, Finding Freedom, Prince Harry’s relationship with the Duchess of Sussex served as the catalyst for his and William’s row.
They claimed William was skeptical of Meghan, reporting the Duke allegedly told Harry: “Don’t feel you need to rush this.
“Take as much time as you need to get to know this girl.”
The authors claim Harry was “p***** off that his brother would ask such a thing” and viewed his brother as “snobbish” for asking him to take it slow with Meghan, leading to the rift.
But Mr Lacy also suggested the tension between the two brothers had been brewing for years, with issues dating back to their childhood.
He said to Entertainment Tonight: “You know, I describe how when they were born, it was William who was the rambunctious character and it was Harry who was the good little boy who sucked his thumb.
“Then William discovers that he’s going to be king, he becomes much more serious and quiet between the age of six or seven. Harry goes the other way (…)
“I think the responsibility he had for Harry also robbed him of the, you know, carefree nature of his childhood.”
Mr Lacy also told Us Weekly Prince Harry’s decision to step back from the royal family blindsided William and Charles.
He claimed Prince Harry brought it up “sort of offhand”, which led to the pair not taking it seriously.
Mr Lacey added: “They didn’t quite believe they were serious.
“It’s, ‘Put it down on writing paper or chap, you know, sends us an email and we’ll think about it.’
“And we know this cause Harry himself and the other palaces have agreed that, like, this must have happened.”
