Prince William's Strained Relationship with Prince Harry Post Royal Exit, Revealed in 'Endgame' Book

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The rift between Prince William and Prince Harry deepened significantly after Harry openly discussed his issues with the family and The Firm in 2021, as revealed by royal author Omid Scobie.

After publicly airing his grievances against the royal family and institution in a 2021 CBS tell-all with wife Meghan Markle, the already strained relationship between Harry, 39, and William, 41, worsened, according to Scobie's upcoming book Endgame. The royal journalist also noted that Harry and Meghan's 2022 Netflix documentary, as well as the prince's 2023 memoir, Spare, only fueled the ongoing conflict.

According to Scobie's book, William feels that Harry and Meghan blindsided the family with their public comments, and has reportedly expressed to various friends and aides his views on their "California self-importance."

Scobie claimed in his revealing book that an insider informed him that William believes Harry has been influenced by a group of therapists and that he no longer feels like he knows his younger brother. In 2020, Harry and Meghan surprised many by announcing their decision to step back from their senior royal duties. They have since moved to the United States and have been sharing their perspective on their time within the royal family.

When Harry began sharing anecdotes about his life as a prince, specifically in his memoir, his relationship with William and their father, King Charles III, grew even more strained. In his book, Harry admitted feeling like he was always in the background, the support, and the backup plan for William, who is next in line for the British throne.

He wrote, “I was called upon to be a backup, a distraction, a diversion, and, if necessary, a spare part. Kidney, perhaps. Blood transfusion. Speck of bone marrow. This was made explicitly clear to me from the beginning of my journey in life and reaffirmed on a regular basis.”

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Scobie, meanwhile, revealed in his book that he saw the brothers’ friction firsthand in 2019 after covering the royal family for years.

As 2020 approached, the author expressed feeling increasing tension in his working relationship with Kensington Palace. Following his coverage of Harry and Meghan's October 2019 southern Africa trip, Scobie alleged that one of William's aides confided in him, expressing discomfort with the Sussex team's relationship. In Endgame, Scobie claimed that a Kensington Palace aide privately advised him that he didn't need to pick a side but should acknowledge that there are sides in this situation.

While William and Harry continue to be at odds, William’s relationship with his father, 75, has appeared to get stronger in the wake of the drama.

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Exclusive: Royal expert Christopher Andersen revealed in July that the royal family has had to unite against Harry and Meghan. Insulted by their own family members, they have faced quite a challenge. However, this has only strengthened their bond.

Endgame: Inside the Royal Family and the Monarchy’s Fight for Survival comes out on Tuesday, November 28.