Prince William and Prince Harry were once inseparable — bound not only by brotherhood but also by the shared loss of their mother, Princess Diana. Yet, over time, that bond fractured. When Harry and Meghan stepped away from royal life in 2020, the “Battle of the Brothers” truly began. Now, years later, the two are said to be completely estranged.

But according to Diana’s former butler, Paul Burrell, the roots of their feud might stretch back far earlier — all the way to their childhood.

A Bond Formed in Love and Loss

Growing up, William and Harry’s childhood was as normal as royal life allowed. Princess Diana was determined to raise her sons to understand the world beyond palace walls, a parenting style William has carried on with his own children.

Her tragic death in 1997 left a wound that never fully healed. Though the brothers supported each other through their grief, things began to shift as their adult lives diverged. When Harry left the royal family to build a new life in California with Meghan Markle, that divide widened into a deep rift.

Since then, communication between the brothers has been minimal. Reports suggest they haven’t spoken properly in years, and the tension was palpable even during King Charles’ coronation, when Harry’s visit to London lasted mere hours.

Will Harry Attend William’s Coronation?

As William prepares for his future role as king, questions have arisen over whether his younger brother will even be invited to his eventual coronation.

Last year, a friend of the princes told The Times that the brothers were “estranged” and hadn’t spoken in almost two years. Still, royal author Christopher Andersen told Fox News that he’s convinced William won’t exclude Harry.

“Despite all the bad blood between the brothers, I’m convinced that when the time comes, William will not be foolish enough to exclude his only sibling from his coronation,” Andersen said.

Others, however, aren’t so sure. According to Page Six, even if Harry were invited, he might choose not to attend. Royal expert Hugo Vickers noted that it would be William’s decision alone: “Quite frankly, he can do what he likes. It’s not set in stone.”

A Rift Rooted in Childhood

While much of the tension appears recent, Paul Burrell believes the seeds of rivalry were sown long ago. Speaking on Channel 5’s documentary The Palace: What the Royal Servants Saw, Diana’s former butler recalled moments from the princes’ early years that may have left a lasting mark.

“I heard one of the nannies say to William, ‘I’m going to give you three sausages, William. You need to grow big and strong, because you’re going to be king one day,’” Burrell said.

Burrell, who began working at Buckingham Palace at 18 and later served as King Charles’ butler, spent years observing the young princes. He believes small moments like that — seemingly harmless, yet full of meaning — reinforced Harry’s sense of being second best.

“I met both William and Harry in their early twenties at a polo match,” Burrell recalled. “And you could see that Harry always felt he was in second place.”

Can the Brothers Reconcile?

Harry’s memoir Spare deepened the divide, revealing painful private details about life within the royal family and his strained relationship with William. Since its release, hopes for reconciliation have dimmed even further.

Still, many close to the family believe time could heal the wounds — though that time has yet to come.

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