Prince Harry Loses Key Friends to Prince William as Rift Deepens

Prince Harry has reportedly lost the quiet friendship battle with his older brother, Prince William, as more of their mutual friends are choosing sides — and they’re not choosing him.

The Duke of Sussex has had to step back from many of the friends he once shared with William, as those in their social circle feel forced to align with one brother or the other. One of the most telling examples is the Duke of Westminster, Hugh Grosvenor, a longtime friend to both men.

Royal expert Jennie Bond compared the situation to a marriage breakup, where friends often feel pressured to pick a side. “As with a marriage break-up, many of William and Harry’s friends have been left feeling obliged to take sides,” she told the Mirror. “Hugh was good friends with both William and Harry but, since the brothers’ dramatic rift, the Duke of Westminster has had to navigate a tricky path.”

It appears Hugh has chosen to stand publicly with William. “It was William who was invited to the big wedding, he was an usher, and William who stood alongside Hugh and his new wife Olivia cheering on Aston Villa in their exciting Champions League quarter final,” Bond said.

This shift could carry over to more personal matters. “If there is to be a royal godfather to the couple’s newborn daughter, the likelihood is that it will be William,” Bond added. She noted that there’s already plenty of “cross pollination” between the families when it comes to godparents, making William the obvious choice.

The emotional divide between the brothers makes these decisions easier for friends who have to choose. Harry’s life in California, far from the UK, means he’s less likely to be considered for roles that require an ongoing presence. “These awkward decisions are made slightly easier by the fact that Harry lives so far away, with no prospect of ever moving back to the UK,” Bond said. “And that’s not the ideal way to carry out any godparenting duties.”

Harry’s physical distance from his old life has only amplified the impact of his strained relationship with William. Friends who once moved effortlessly between both brothers now find themselves more firmly in William’s camp — attending his events, appearing alongside him publicly, and even sharing personal milestones that Harry is no longer part of.

While the brothers’ split has played out publicly over the years, this quieter reshuffling of friendships underscores just how deep the rift has become. For those close to both, the choice isn’t easy — but as Bond points out, it’s a reality when two people in a tight-knit group fall out so dramatically.

For Harry, the loss of these friendships is another layer of separation from his old life in the UK. For William, it’s a reinforcement of his position as the central figure in their shared social world. And for their mutual friends, it’s a balancing act that gets trickier with every passing year.