Royals

Prince William has reportedly expressed his sadness following Meghan and Harry’s shock announcement

The report comes just days before he is set to meet with Harry, The Queen and Prince Charles to find workable solutions to the Sussexes' future plans.
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The Duke of Cambridge has reportedly opened up to a close friend expressing his sadness over the growing distance between him and his younger brother the Duke of Sussex.

According to the friend who spoke to The Sunday Times, Prince William said, “I’ve put my arm around my brother all our lives and I can’t do that anymore; we’re separate entities.”

However, the 37-year-old has reportedly said he has hopes the rift will be repaired over time.

“All we can do, and all I can do, is try and support them and hope that the time comes when we’re all singing from the same page,” he said, according to the friend.

“I want everyone to play on the team.”

Prince William reportedly opened up to a close friend about his sadness at the rift between him and Prince Harry, but hopes they repair their relationship in the future. (Image: Getty)

Prince Harry has also addressed the growing distance between him and his brother recently during an interview with ITV‘s Tom Bradby in the documentary Harry and Meghan: An African Journey screened last year in October.

Bradby raised the issue with Harry, asking if there was any truth to speculation of a rift between him and Prince William, following the Sussexes’ split from the Cambridge household and charitable foundation.

Harry replied: “Part of this role and part of this job and this family being under the pressure that it’s under inevitably, you know, stuff happens.

“But look, we’re brothers. We’ll always be brothers. We’re certainly on different paths at the moment but I will always be there for him and as I know he’ll always be there for me.”

Adding, “You know, we don’t see each other as much as we, as much as we used to because we’re busy. But I love him dearly and, you know, the majority of the stuff is created out of nothing.

“Just as I said, as brothers, you know, you have good days, you have bad days.”

Prince Harry has said that despite their differences they’ll always be brothers and will always be there for each other. (Image: Getty)

Prince William’s private admission to his friend comes just days before he is set to meet with his younger brother for the first time since he and his wife Duchess Meghan made the shock announcement they will be stepping down from their roles as ‘senior’ royals and becoming ‘financially independent’.

While the royal couple had reportedly already been in discussions with the Queen and Buckingham Palace about their decision, it seems the timing of their announcement still came as a shock when the Palace released a brief and pointed statement following the couple’s announcement which read: “Discussions with The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are at an early stage.

“We understand their desire to take a different approach, but these are complicated issues that will take time to work through.”

The Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry are said to be undertaking a four-way meeting at Sandringham on Monday afternoon, UK time, to find workable solutions for the Sussexes that will try and accommodate the couple’s wishes.

According to a palace aide who spoke to royal correspondent Omid Scobie for BAZAAR, the aim is to announce a decision within days, not weeks, saying the “next steps will be agreed at the meeting and the request for this to be resolved at pace is still Her Majesty’s wish.”

According to Scobie, Duchess Meghan is likely to join in on discussion by phone – the Duchess returned to Canada to be with Archie who did not travel to London with the couple last week – and while Prince Charles is currently in Oman to express his condolences following the death of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, he is said to return to the UK in time for the important discussions.

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