Prince William and Prince Harry Were Once Inseparable Before Rift Tore Them Apart

Prince William and Prince Harry may now be living on opposite sides of the Atlantic with little contact, but according to one insider, they were once as close as brothers could be.

Grant Harold, who worked as a royal butler, recalled how tight their bond was growing up, especially in the years after the death of their mother, Princess Diana. Speaking to the Mirror, he said: “William and Harry were so close, as brothers go. With many siblings, you can be close as children and then maybe drift a bit as you grow up in your late teens and early 20s, but William and Harry were the opposite.”

Harold added: “I don’t know if it’s because of their mother’s death, but they were inseparable. They were hanging out together, going to pubs together, just having fun together.”

The brothers’ shared grief after Diana’s tragic death in 1997 seemed to create an unbreakable bond at the time. They were often seen side by side at public events and enjoyed each other’s company away from the spotlight. From sharing jokes at football matches to nights out in London, William and Harry were viewed as a united front, navigating royal life together.

That closeness, however, began to fracture in recent years, most notably after Harry’s decision to step back from royal duties in 2020. He and Meghan Markle left the UK with their son Archie and started a new life in California, later welcoming their daughter, Princess Lilibet.

The couple’s departure was followed by a series of interviews and documentaries that laid bare tensions with the Royal Family. Harry accused the institution of failing to protect his wife and even suggested racist attitudes had been directed towards his son. Those claims sent shockwaves through the monarchy and added further strain to his relationship with William.

Once dubbed the “royal dream team,” the brothers’ partnership is now overshadowed by distance and very public disagreements. While William has stepped into his role as heir to the throne with the full support of the institution, Harry has carved out a separate identity, focusing on media projects and philanthropy in the United States.

Insiders say the rift has been painful for both, especially given how close they were in their younger years. The bond they once shared, fuelled by a shared loss and the unique pressures of being Diana’s sons, has become one of the most talked-about divisions in modern royal history.

For now, William remains in the UK with his wife Kate and their three children, while Harry continues life in California with Meghan and their young family. Whether the brothers can rebuild their relationship remains to be seen, but memories of their once inseparable bond still linger for those who witnessed it first-hand.