Before the Duke of Sussex decided to step away from the royal family in 2020, Prince Harry and Prince William had experienced a tense and estranged relationship for years.

The tensions persisted even after Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, resigned from royal duties four years ago and subsequently moved to the United States.

Since their exit, the couple have detailed their time in the royal family in interviews and with the media, with some controversial comments appearing to cause a rift in the family and angering senior royals, including the Prince of Wales.

However, the brothers had already had a falling out in 2002, according to royal biographer Robert Lacey.

Lacey wrote in his best-selling book Battle of Brothers: “Meghan was not the original factor in Prince Harry’s decision to shoot his family. In January 2005, after the Colonial vs. Aboriginal costume fiasco, we now know Harry The Prince Was Shot” reassessed the unfairness of his brother’s involvement and William’s rose-tinted appearance.

“This left Harry feeling alienated. Friends recall that the brothers “didn’t speak” at the time and there was a considerable rift – as was the case after the “drugs shaming” of 2002, when Harry first Starting to realize the cost of playing drugs. Functional scapegoat.”

After the Princess of Wales revealed to the world that she had been diagnosed with cancer, it was thought that Prince Harry and Prince William could reunite even if they had a brief chat at a distance.

Royal expert and author Tom Quinn exclusively told The Mirror: “Given Kate’s cancer diagnosis, Harry will certainly make an effort to visit his brother and Kate when he returns to the UK in May – if that happens. , it will also be a very brief, carefully designed experience.” The meetings are kept short so the brothers can avoid any difficult conversations. “