As an \u2018outsider\u2019, Catherine had witnessed the deterioration of William and Harry\u2019s relationship. She had seen Harry and Meghan<\/a> become ever more bitter at having to follow the rules of a hierarchical and hereditary monarchy, until they felt as if they could follow them no longer.<\/p>\n (However,) Catherine had less interest than her husband in trying to persuade Harry to stay in his current role. She believed William and Harry\u2019s fundamental differences as the \u2018heir and the spare\u2019 had created the inevitability of Harry wanting more from his role than being a bit-part player.<\/p>\n You just don’t get Africa<\/p>\n What had started as a loosely formulated launch pad for their ideas would, over time, have to become more structured. This shift suited William\u2019s mindset. He believed that the royal family<\/a> had to evolve in order to stay relevant. The institution could not afford to repeat the same tried and trusted methods of members of the family backing causes or turning up to the odd charity event. They had to be effecting change.<\/p>\n However, this resulted in conflict around a perceived landgrab.<\/p>\n Tensions flared between the two couples(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n For years William had shown an interest in the environment and conservation, especially across Africa, and was keen to follow in the footsteps of both his father and grandfather. It was an area that William felt a deep passion for, it connected his love of the countryside to the wider environment, and was somewhere he could use his profile to push for change. Again, Harry regarded this as confrontational. “You don\u2019t just get Africa”, Harry told William in one meeting at St James\u2019s Palace.<\/p>\n Harry introduces Meghan<\/p>\n Not long before the story broke, Harry had plucked up the courage to share his secret. She (Meghan) had pulled off a perfect curtsy to the Queen and managed to charm William, even if he felt a little awkward receiving a hug on arrival. Catherine described Meghan as “friendly”, albeit erring on the side of somewhat over-friendly, with a \u2018touch of California\u2019 about her.<\/p>\n Yet the course of true love never did run smooth and the onslaught of the media interest changed things overnight.<\/p>\n A new biography William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story , by The Mirror’s royal editor Russell Myers<\/p>\n The granular details of Meghan\u2019s life were suddenly Fleet Street currency, and the boundaries of taste and decency became blurred. Harry\u2019s reaction was furious and swift. Without consulting his father or brother, as the hierarchy would normally dictate, he instructed the Kensington Palace communications team to respond at once – highlighting “a wave of abuse and harassment \u2026 the racial undertones of comment pieces”.<\/p>\n The media\u2019s tone may have dampened, but the interest in their relationship did not. Harry was infuriated that his father and brother admonished him for his rash actions, and the tense conversations left Harry astounded that his own kin were refusing to offer their support.<\/p>\n This period did indeed mark an outward shift in their relations. Suddenly it was harder to get them in the same room, each giving various excuses as to why they could not \u2013 or perhaps would not \u2013 be available to engage with meetings together.<\/p>\n William’s warning to Harry over the speed of his relationship with Meghan<\/p>\n William warned his brother about the speed at which the relationship had progressed, urging him to take his time. Lovestruck, he was in no mood to listen.<\/p>\n A source said: “It\u2019s easy to forget now, given everything that has gone on, but William did find Meghan quite refreshing at first. He was genuinely happy for Harry and only wanted the best for him.<\/p>\n “Meghan made him happy and if she had been prepared to take a chance on their relationship, then he certainly would have never stood in their way. If there was one thing he was uneasy about, it was a clash of styles.<\/p>\n “He definitely saw it as a potential problem on the horizon.”<\/p>\n Catherine willing to ‘give Meghan a chance’<\/p>\n Meghan and Catherine were two women from incredibly different worlds and very different backgrounds.<\/p>\n Meghan had crafted a successful career for herself, while Catherine had essentially had one job. Perhaps two if you count working for the family business.<\/p>\n They did not dress in the same way or act in the same way. But despite this \u2013 and at first the contrast between the two women was largely contrived by the media \u2013 Catherine was willing to give Meghan a chance.<\/p>\n She adored Harry and had urged William to maintain his relationship with his brother despite their growing differences. Catherine and Sophie, the then Countess of Wessex and now Duchess of Edinburgh, had attempted to assist Meghan as she assimilated into royal life, but their “repeated attempts” were not responded to.<\/p>\n Harry’s fury over Meghan not being given security when Catherine was – and William refuses to intervene<\/p>\n Meghan became a target on social media owing to her biracial heritage and Harry demanded that action be taken. Royal aides informed him they were powerless to act, so he turned his attention to the royal protection teams funded by the Home Office. When told any such protection would not be provided until after he and Meghan were married, Harry was incredulous and appealed to his father and brother to intervene.<\/p>\n The Prince of Wales insisted he could not become involved in a government decision, especially one where any costs would be footed by taxpayers, but Harry was well aware that Catherine had not only received unofficial guidance from the palace when merely his brother\u2019s girlfriend, but that she had also qualified for round-the-clock protection as soon as they became engaged.<\/p>\n One rule for him and another for me, Harry thought.<\/p>\n Prince Charles\u2019s decision was final, though, and William\u2019s subsequent unwillingness to help sparked a row that ignited a long-running and ugly feud.<\/p>\n William remonstrates with Harry over ‘unforgivable behaviour’ – William and Catherine’s concern fab four would not work<\/p>\n William and Catherine were fearful not only of the effect on team morale, but also their capacity to work with Harry and Meghan moving forward. “In one camp you had the people who cared, wanted those working in the household to enjoy themselves while working there, and on the other side it was something different every day. Nothing was ever good enough, there were constant complaints. It was exhausting.”<\/p>\n Catherine saw the Sussexes’ departure as inevitable<\/p>\n Catherine, who had so long been a voice of reason in the brothers\u2019 previous squabbles, decided she could do no more to bring them together.<\/p>\n At first she had thought William and Harry\u2019s squabbles were rooted in immaturity or stubbornness, on both sides, but Harry and Meghan\u2019s attitude towards palace staff, who she and William cared about, set the couples on an entirely different course. Following Harry and Meghan\u2019s wedding, things were undeniably different.<\/p>\n Things changed after Harry and Meghan’s wedding(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n William and Catherine felt the Sussexes had \u2018an agenda\u2019.<\/p>\n “They definitely thought the Sussexes\u2019 behaviour stemmed from something more than being difficult.<\/p>\n “The whole atmosphere between them was pretty toxic”, a source said. \u2018Meghan was being bullish, Kate found her abrasive. She saw the inevitability of the parting of ways, although perhaps not to the extent of what eventually happened.”<\/p>\n Despite trying to help him, William felt he lost his brother<\/p>\n Sources close to William and Catherine suggest the couple became even more deeply concerned for Harry and Meghan\u2019s welfare after watching the documentary. A source close to William suggested he had also attempted to help his brother, saying: “He [William] felt as though somewhere down the line, perhaps it is impossible to even say when, that he lost his brother.<\/p>\n “He became paranoid, angry, obsessive and firmly rooted in the past. There\u2019s no doubt, at that time at least, there was a lot of love and support available for Harry.”<\/p>\n Catherine believed Harry and Meghan not to be trusted<\/p>\n In the aftermath of Harry and Meghan\u2019s Oprah interview, the Sussexes\u2019 version of how the family and the institution had conspired against them, had created a siege mentality in the palace. Harry\u2019s presence at the funeral just ensured these feelings stayed fresh in everyone\u2019s minds.<\/p>\n William and Catherine were both wounded by the numerous accusations and the presentation of Harry and Meghan\u2019s \u2018truth\u2019. William was most aggrieved by Harry\u2019s assertion that he was “trapped” in the system, while Catherine felt deeply let down over Meghan\u2019s disclosure of a private exchange, which sparked claim and counterclaim regarding the fitting of dresses before the Sussexes\u2019 2018 wedding.<\/p>\n It compounded, in Catherine\u2019s mind, a key difference between her and Meghan, who she no longer believed she could trust.<\/p>\n A source said: “She (Catherine )was very clear that any engagement with Harry or Meghan should be with the utmost of caution because it was obvious that they weren\u2019t to be trusted.”<\/p>\n Extracted from WILLIAM AND CATHERINE by RUSSELL MYERS, published by Ebury Spotlight on 26th February at \u00a322. Copyright \u00a9 Russell Myers 2025. William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story is available to pre-order now<\/a>.<\/p>\n Get the inside scoop on the monarchy with Mirror Royal<\/p>\n WHATSAPP GROUP: Be first to get the biggest royal bombshells and exclusives to your phone by joining our Royal WhatsApp here.<\/a><\/p>\n We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Tensions](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0_The-Royal-Family-Attend-Church-On-Christmas-Day.jpg\")
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