Prince William is reportedly disappointed with the way Prince Harry is reacting to Queen Elizabeth’s announcement that he and his wife Meghan Markle have officially resigned from their royal roles.
On Sunday, palace sources told the Sunday Times that the Duke of Cambridge, 38, was “really sad and really shocked” about his younger brother’s behavior.
Buckingham Palace confirmed on Friday that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not return as working royals. The announcement came just over a year after Harry (36) and Markle (39) revealed they would be taking a “step back” as senior royals, which had a review period of one year.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed to their Queen that they will not return as working members of the royal family,” the statement began.
MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRY WILL NO LONGER SERVE AS PATTERNS FOR SOME ORGANIZATIONS
Prince William (right) is apparently ‘unhappy’ with the way his younger brother Prince Harry (left) reacted to their grandmother Queen Elizabeth II.
(Getty)
“After discussions with The Duke, The Queen wrote that it is impossible to continue with the responsibilities and duties associated with a life of public service due to the work of The Royal Family. While everyone is saddened about their decision, ‘The Duke and Duchess remain many beloved members of the family.’
Just after the palace shared the statement, Harry and Markle released their own message.
A spokesman for the couple said in a statement that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as evidenced by their work over the past year, are committed to their duty and service to the UK and around the world, and have maintained their Support to the organizations they represented, regardless of the official role. We can all live a service life. Service is universal. ‘
In response, sources close to William told The Sunday Times that he was “very upset about what happened” and that the couple’s behavior was “insulting and disrespectful”.
MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRY WILL NOT RETURN AS MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY, SP PALACE
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle currently live in California with their firstborn Archie. The Duchess of Sussex is expecting the couple’s second child.
(AP)
“You are not answering the queen back – it was just not done,” an insider said.
Despite the recent news, friends of the two brothers have insisted that their relationship will heal over time.
“It’s still raw,” claims a friend of William’s at the outlet. “He’s very upset about what happened, although he absolutely intends that he and Harry’s relationship will heal over time.”
According to the palace, Harry’s appointment as captain general of the Royal Marines and titles at other military groups will return to the queen before being distributed to other members of the family.
Harry, who had served in the British Army for a decade and had a close bond with the military, established the Invictus contest for wounded troops.
MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRY WAS ‘HOPEFUL’ TO GET PREGNANT AGAIN AFTER A ‘DESTRUCTIVE’ MISSING: SOURCE
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had earlier announced that they would take a step back as senior members of the British royal family.
(Reuters)
According to the palace, the military, Commonwealth and charitable associations will now return to Harry’s grandmother, the Queen, including the Royal Marines, RAF Honington, Royal Navy Small Ships and Diving, The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, The Rugby Football Union, The Rugby Football League , The Royal National Theater and The Association of Commonwealth Universities.
In their January 2020 announcement to retire as senior members of the Royal Family, Harry and Markle discuss their intentions to work independently, dividing their time between the United Kingdom and North America.
At the time, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said their decision came “after many months of reflection and internal discussions.”
The couple added that they would continue to work with the reigning king, 94, as well as Harry’s father Prince Charles (72) and William.
OPRAH LANDS MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRY’S FIRST UNLOCK MAINTENANCE SINCE ENGAGEMENT
Prince William is second on the throne.
(REUTERS)
Rumors of an alleged royal feud came to light in 2019, when British best-selling author Katie Nicholl claimed that William, since Markle and Harry announced in 2017, had become increasingly concerned about his brother and his whirlwind romance with the American actress.
“William was very worried that the relationship was moving so fast,” Nicholl claims in the TLC documentary “Kate V. Meghan: Princesses at War?” ‘And being close to Harry, you know, probably the only person close enough to say to Harry,’ It seems to be moving fast. Are you sure? ‘And I think what was meant, as well as the intended fraternal advice, Harry just raged. ‘
“Harry is very protective of Meghan,” Nicholl continues. “He sees it as criticism, and he interprets that his brother is not really behind this marriage, this union. And I don’t think things have been quite right since.”
Harry alluded to an alleged split with his older brother in ITV’s 2019 documentary ‘Harry & Meghan: An African Journey’.
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“/>Prince Harry (left) said he and his older brother, Prince William (right) are on ‘different paths’. Yet: “I will always be there for him and I know he will always be there for me.”
(Getty)
“Part of this role and part of this job, this family that is under pressure, inevitably happens,” he said at the time. “But look, we are brothers, we will always be brothers. We are definitely on different paths at the moment, but I will always be there for him and I know he will always be there for me.”
In November 2020, royal historian and biographer Robert Lacey told Fox News that while William and Harry ‘talk’ telephonically from time to time, it will take a while before their relationship heals.
“I think it would always have happened that Meghan and Harry would live on the other side of the world,” he explained. “I think Meghan and Harry will stay settled in North America. Unless the brothers can find a way to reconcile, they will have to take separate paths and have mutual respect for each other.”
“We do know that in July 2021, both brothers were committed to being in Kensington Gardens for the unveiling of the statue dedicated to their late mother, Princess Diana,” he pointed out. “The world will then judge. But there is a lot of work to be done.”
Fox News’ Melissa Roberto and The Associated Press contributed to this report.