Tensions in the royal family have been growing for a long time. Here’s a look at the family split and the surprising reasons why Prince William and Princess Kate might not welcome Prince Harry and Meghan Markle back into the royal family.
The British royal family used to seem very close, with Prince William and Harry often seen as best friends. However, that image started to fall apart, especially after Harry married Meghan Markle.
While many people still hope for a reconciliation, sources close to the royals say that the chances are now more uncertain than ever. So, what are the main issues preventing a royal reunion? The answers shed light on the ongoing divide within the family.
How Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Relationship with the Royal Family Frayed Over Time
The tensions between Prince Harry and the royal family, especially with his brother Prince William, have been growing for years. What began as a close bond between two brothers turned into a significant rift, made worse by personal issues, family dynamics, and public scrutiny.
By 2019, it was clear that Prince Harry’s relationship with the rest of the royal family, particularly his brother, had reached a breaking point.
This was a tough year for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as they faced constant media attention, which took a heavy emotional toll on them.
Meghan shared that she felt deep emotional distress because of the ongoing criticism from British tabloids, which Prince Harry noted included a “race element.”
Prince Harry reflected on the trauma of losing his mother, Princess Diana, when he was just 12. He expressed his fears, saying, “I worried that I could lose my wife in the same way.”
By the end of that year, it was obvious that the brothers were heading in very different directions. Tensions had escalated, and Prince Harry shared a specific incident at his Kensington Palace cottage that highlighted the growing divide between them.
Prince Harry described a heated argument in early 2019 where tensions reached a breaking point. He claimed that Prince William became so frustrated that he physically attacked him. What started as a shouting match escalated into a physical confrontation, with Prince Harry ending up on the floor, landing on a dog bowl.
For Harry, this wasn’t just a typical brotherly fight; it was also about defending his wife, as William’s anger was aimed at Meghan.
Prince Harry explained that Prince William had been influenced by his staff and the negative coverage from the tabloids about Meghan. The media’s focus on her being American, biracial, divorced, and an actress only added to the royal family’s concerns.
Harry believed that many of the stories William accepted were unfounded, but they fueled the growing tension between the two brothers.
When Prince Harry introduced Meghan to the royal family in 2016, the reaction wasn’t as positive as he had hoped. King Charles III seemed to like Meghan, but Prince William was skeptical and cautious about the new relationship.
He reportedly dismissed Meghan by calling her “an American actress.” Over time, the distance between the brothers grew. When Meghan and Prince Harry announced they would step back from royal duties in early 2020, it became clear that the rift had deepened.
Their departure shocked the public and caught Prince William off guard, increasing his frustrations. The brothers, who had once been seen as inseparable after their mother’s tragic death, were now living very different lives.
While Prince William focused on his future role as king, Prince Harry chose a new life outside the royal spotlight, putting his family’s well-being first.
In a personal moment from his 2021 memoir, “Spare,” Prince Harry shared his thoughts on his relationship with Prince William. He recalled a meeting where he noticed how much his brother had changed over the years.
My daughter-in-law brought my car back completely wrecked after visiting a friend – she refused to cover the repair costs, so I decided to teach her a lesson
“I’m fine, thanks,” I smiled, totally mesmerized by my son’s choice. “You look wonderful, Layla!”
At that moment, I had no clue how this woman would soon come into our lives and pull my son away from me. She seemed so nice; I never would have guessed just how cunning she really was.
Toby and Layla tied the knot just six months after our first meeting. I was so happy for my son as he started a new chapter of his life, and my heart was full of good wishes for him. I remember how I couldn’t stop weeping when my boy said his vows like a grown-up man.
Not long after the wedding, Toby and Layla invited me over to their place for lunch. I thought it would be a nice bonding session with my daughter-in-law since it was just the three of us, but it was anything but that.
Toby had asked me to be there at 2 p.m., but I arrived about 10 minutes late, and Layla took that as an opportunity to create a scene.
“Why are you so late, Jennifer?” she asked as soon as I stepped inside the house. I couldn’t see Toby anywhere near the entrance. “I’ve been waiting for you for so long!”
“I… I got late because of the traffic,” I stammered, taken aback by the unexpected confrontation.
“I don’t like hosting people who can’t value my time,” she muttered.
“I’m sorry for that, Layla,” I apologized. “But it was just 10 minutes.”
“I don’t care if it was 10 minutes or 10 hours,” she shot me an angry look. “You need to be on time when you come to my place, underst—”
“Oh, Mom! You’re here!” Toby interrupted. “How are you, my lovely lady?”
“I’m fine, Toby,” I said, hugging him, still reeling from Layla’s behavior. “How are you, my love? Looks like you haven’t been eating well.”
“Nah, I’m good, Mom,” he smiled. “What were you guys talking about?”
“Your wife was say—”
“Nothing, babe,” Layla cut me off. “I was just telling her how beautiful she looks today.”
“Yeah?” Toby’s gaze shifted from his wife to me. “My mom always looks the best!”
At that point, I was stunned by Layla’s behavior. Why was she being so sweet to me in front of Toby? And why didn’t she let me tell him what she had said earlier?
I spent the rest of the afternoon at their house, observing how Layla effortlessly switched on her sweet personality whenever Toby was around. But when he wasn’t looking, she’d throw mean remarks to make me feel unwelcome.
That day marked the beginning of my strained relationship with my daughter-in-law.
Then, one day, I noticed how Toby began taking her side whenever Layla and I argued in front of him.
“Layla’s right, Mom,” Toby said one day when we were at a restaurant deciding what to order for dinner. “We don’t need a large bowl of salad. It’s just the three of us. We’ll manage with a small bowl.”
“See, I’ve been telling your mother to order the small bowl, but she never listens to me,” Layla chuckled. “I don’t know why she never trusts me.”
She played the victim in front of him, and my poor boy always fell for it. I don’t blame him; he had seen his father always side with me. But I wasn’t like Layla. I wasn’t pretending to be a good daughter-in-law in front of my husband.
Layla’s behavior toward me didn’t change until the day she called me. I was genuinely surprised to see her name on my phone screen.
“Hi, Jen!” she chirped through the phone.
Jen? I thought. That’s weird.
“Hi, Layla,” I played along, trying to sound as sweet as possible. “How are you?”
“I’m good,” she said. “I was wondering if I could borrow your car tomorrow. Would that be okay with you?”
“My car?” I asked.
“Yeah,” she sighed. “Actually, I was supposed to visit my friend today. She lives a few hours away, but I couldn’t go because my car broke down. The mechanic says it’ll take a few days before he can fix it.”
“Oh, my! Sounds like there’s a major problem,” I said, genuinely concerned.
“I was so upset, but then Toby suggested I ask if you could lend me your car for a day,” she continued. “I’ll be back in a week.”
A week? I thought. That’s a lot.
But I felt bad for her. She sounded desperate, and she mentioned Toby had suggested it, so I didn’t want to let her down. I also saw it as a chance to mend our relationship.
“Sure, I don’t mind,” I said. “You can come over today if you want.”
And that was one of the biggest mistakes of my life.
A week later, Layla and Toby returned my car, but I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw it. It was covered in scratches, dents, and dust. And the inside? It smelled like rotten onions!
“What have you done to my car?” I spat out. “What happened?”
“Excuse me?” she said, squinting her eyes as if I’d said something outrageous. “What did I do to your car? It was like this when I picked it up the other day.”
“Stop it, Layla!” I yelled at her. “Stop lying.”
“You think I’m lying?” she snapped, turning to Toby. “Babe, look at her! She’s accusing me of lying! How dare she?”
“Mom, Layla’s right,” Toby said. “She told me your car was like this when she picked it up the other day. She’s not lying.”
“Toby? Are you serious?” I stared at him in shock, realizing there was no point in arguing with them.
I had no proof, and neither did she. But Toby sided with her because he was so blindly in love with her.
I realized that arguing might even push my son away, so I decided to teach Layla a lesson instead. I spent the night researching online and stumbled across an incredible idea. A quick call to the nearby pet shop, and my plan was in motion.
The next night, I drove over to their place armed with animal attractant sprays. I carefully sprayed them all over their backyard, driveway, and front porch, making sure to stay out of sight.
With the lights off, I knew they were asleep. I quickly executed my plan and quietly drove away, feeling a mix of nerves and satisfaction.
I was certain this would teach Layla not to mess with me again.
The next morning, I woke up to my phone ringing. It was Toby.
“Mom, I need help!” he cried over the phone.
“What happened, honey?” I asked, feigning ignorance. “Are you okay?”
“We just woke up, and it’s awful here! The yard stinks, and wild animals have turned our place into a toilet! The whole house smells horrible, and we don’t know what to do!”
I secretly smirked, listening to him rant about the mess. The irony was delicious.
“Oh, my!” I pretended to be surprised. “That sounds horrible. I guess that’s what happens when you ruin someone else’s property.”
I don’t know if Toby caught my meaning, but I’m sure his clever wife knew those animals didn’t show up by chance. She had to know it was me, her oh-so-nice mother-in-law, who never fought back before.
Since that day, Layla hasn’t dared to mess with me. We met at a dinner once, and she didn’t try to be rude or complain about me wasting her time. Meanwhile, Toby started calling me regularly, checking in to see how I was doing.
I guess my dear husband Nathan was right after all. My son did need me to pull him out of the trance Layla had drawn him into. He needed me to stand up for myself and set a boundary his wife wouldn’t dare cross again.
What would you have done if you were in my place?
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