Prince William and Prince Harry‘s split has been described as an incredible loss for the Duke of Cambridge by royal commentator Duncan Larcombe. He said: “There’s no doubt this is one of the hardest things that William has gone through, the hardest since his mother died.”

Speaking to OK! magazine, he added: “He feels he has lost his brother and his best friend.”

Rumours of a feud between the Cambridges and the Sussexes were first reported in late 2018, when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they were moving out of Nottingham Cottage, on the grounds of Kensington Palace, to relocate in Windsor.

Speculation piled on over the following months, during which the split between the two households became complete after Meghan and Harry got their own communications team, social media account and left the Royal Foundation.

While it was first believed the feud was between Meghan and Kate, it later emerged the upset was between the two brothers. 

According to biographers Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, the split originated in the early days of Meghan and Harry’s relationship, when the Duke of Cambridge expressed concerns to his brother over the speed at which the couple were moving and advised him to take as much time as he needed to get to know the now-Duchess.

Other royal commentators, including Robert Lacey and Roya Nikkhah, believe turmoil between the brothers had started years before, with Ms Nikkhah recently arguing during The Times’ podcast Stories of our time Harry had become increasingly annoyed at the pecking order and how it limited his freedom to work on projects he cared about.

In October 2019, during the Sussexes’ tour to Africa, Prince Harry himself addressed rumours of a split.

Asked by broadcaster Tom Bradby whether the brothers had been involved in a rift, Harry replied: “Part of this role and part of this job and this family being under the pressure that it’s under. 

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“Inevitably, you know, stuff happens. But 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 will always be there for me.

“We don’t see each other as much as we used to because we are so busy.

“But I love him dearly. And you know the majority of stuff is created out of nothing.  

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“But as brothers, you know, you have good days, you have bad days.”

The relationship between the pair reportedly broke down in January 2020, when Harry and Meghan announced their intention to step back as full-time working royals.

According to royal expert Katie Nicholl, the Duke of Cambridge was so furious with his brother he could not even bear to have lunch with him on January 18, when the pair met with Prince Charles and the Queen to discuss the exit terms of the Sussexes.

In March, Ms Nikkhah reported that, after thrashing out the deal, the brothers attempted to reconcile by going on a long stroll together. 

However, The Sunday Times reported, they “did not part shores as friends”.

One source told the paper: “Once he got over the anger of how things happened, he was left with the absence of his brother.

“They shared everything about their lives, an office, a foundation, meetings together most days and there was a lot of fun along the way. He’ll miss it forever.”

Ms Nicholl said in January 2021 the Dukes took advantage of the Christmas break to rekindle their relationship, with both families making phone calls and sending each other presents. 

Speaking about his bond with William during his landmark interview with Oprah Winfrey, Harry shed a light on the state of his relationship with the Duke of Cambridge.

After repeating they are on different paths but he loves his brother, he said: “The relationship is space at the moment. Time heals all things.”

The interview is believed to have left Prince William reeling – with Ms Nicholl claiming he was “devastated” by it.

One week after the interview aired, the brothers as well as Prince Charles and Prince Harry got in touch.

But, as revealed by broadcaster Gayle King, the Sussexes felt the conversations were “non productive”.