BREAKING NEWS: Prince William’s four heartbreaking words on the royal brothers’ rift
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have returned to the UK with their two children, Archie and Lilibet, six years after stepping back from royal duties – as a new biography sheds light on the Prince William and Harry relationship rift
William and Catherine are said to want to avoid the “drama” (Image: 2026 Samir Hussein)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made the unexpected choice to return to the UK with their two children, Archie and Lilibet.
The relocation arrives six years after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex decided to step down from their positions as senior working royals and leave Britain for Montecito in California.
It follows what is believed to have been an extended period of strain between Harry and his family, and following their departure – referred to as Megxit at the time – the royal and his wife, former actress Meghan, launched into a series of prominent interviews and television appearances in their quest for financial independence. This comes as Prince William’s ‘biggest problem’ with Meghan Markle is exposed.
Among their most significant appearances was an interview with Oprah Winfrey, and the couple also appeared in the Netflix documentary series, Finding Freedom, detailing their time as working royals.
Prince Harry later published his memoir, Spare, in which he made additional claims against the royal family, including describing a physical confrontation with his older brother Prince William, which he alleges resulted in him being pushed into a dog bowl after a disagreement over his relationship with Meghan.
Meghan Markle speaking to Tom Bradby (Image: ITV)
Now, though, the couple have returned to Britain and are believed to have moved into a non-royal property outside London, with their two children set to start school in the coming days, along with millions of other youngsters throughout the country.
King Charles and Prince William are believed to have received notification of Harry and Meghan’s plans at the same time and continue to be in “complete agreement” that the Duke of Sussex will not be allowed a “half in, half out” position within the monarchy.
Harry will not be returning to his royal responsibilities.
The Prince of Wales and his wife, the Princess of Wales, are also said to be determined to prevent any “drama” related to his brother’s comeback. Sources close to the pair have suggested that while they “cannot forgive” the Sussexes for their accusations against the royal family during their period in America, they remain firm in their commitment to “look forward to the future.”
Harry will not be returning to his royal responsibilities (Image: Justin Setterfield, Getty Images)
In a joint biography covering the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, Mirror royal editor Russell Myers discloses information about the brothers’ fractured relationship, which does not appear to have gotten better since Harry’s arrival back in the UK.
Despite withdrawing from their royal positions in 2020, Harry has subsequently stated tensions were developing in his relationship with the royal family around the period of his wedding to Meghan in 2018. Nevertheless, in his book Myers indicates conflicts between the brothers had emerged significantly earlier than that.
In 2019, Meghan and Harry undertook a royal tour of Southern Africa, creating a documentary with ITV’s Tom Bradby about the trip, in which Meghan candidly acknowledged she had been “struggling,” while Harry disclosed he and his brother were on “different paths.”
Myers discloses that the breakdown in the previously tight relationship between the brothers wasn’t caused by one particular incident involving William; instead, this documentary revealed to the future King and Queen just how significantly circumstances had changed between them and Harry.
Meghan and Harry have moved back to the UK (Image: GETTY)
William believed Harry had become “paranoid” despite his continuous attempts to be supportive.
“He [William] felt as though somewhere down the line, perhaps it is impossible to even say when, that he lost his brother,” a source close to the future King informed Myers. “He became paranoid, angry, obsessive and firmly rooted in the past. There’s no doubt, at that time at least, there was a lot of love and support available for Harry.”
All eyes are focusing on a reunion between the pair (Image: Getty)
It has been extensively reported, and Harry has confirmed it personally, that William advised his younger brother to take things slowly with Meghan. Nevertheless, Myers sheds new perspective on what Harry viewed as a critical and harmful turning point in the brothers’ damaged relationship.
“It’s easy to forget now, given everything that has gone on,” the author cites an insider as stating. “But William did find Meghan quite refreshing at first. He was genuinely happy for Harry and only wanted the best for him.”
