Prince William and Kate Middleton’s secret gift for Princess Lilibet amid ‘limited contact’ with Prince Harry

Prince William and his brother, Prince Harry, have had a fractured relationship since the younger of the two relinquished his royal title and moved to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean with his wife, the Duchess of Sussex.

Though they have not commented publicly on the nature of their relationship since then, more details have emerged about their rift and the small ways that they have maintained a connection despite the fallout.

In his new book, William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, royal author Russell Myers details the journey of the Prince and Princess of Wales, from their respective childhoods to their current status on the global stage, including how they handled Prince Harry’s departure from the United Kingdom.

The royal expert also revealed that the future King and his wife extended an olive branch to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex following the birth of their second child, Princess Lilibet on 4 June 2021. He wrote: “William and Catherine sent a gift and a card of congratulations – although that would be the extent of their contact.”

Following this, Russell noted that: “One former courtier said that all talk of ‘the other side’ was effectively banned after the brothers honoured a previous agreement to come together at Kensington Palace to unveil a statue of their mother on 1 July, on what would have been her 60th birthday.”

The brothers did not deliver individual speeches, but instead Prince William decided that it would be best to release a joint statement, after which he “made up his mind” that “he did not recognise Harry anymore and his brother wasn’t to be trusted.”

Prince William and Prince Harry’s rift

When Prince Harry was in England for his court case against a newspaper publisher, his separation from his brother, who was trying curling with his wife in Scotland, was more visible than ever, as they had been closer geographically than they had been in months.

© Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

Royal author Robert Jobson spoke to HELLO! about the distance and difference between the brothers, telling us: “Yes, they were in the same country, but it’s like they’re worlds apart. William and Kate are the embodiment of the future of the monarchy, while Harry looks trapped in the past.

“William is out there doing the job, serving, while Harry, back in court and nursing old wounds, is still fighting yesterday’s battles. The divide is now absolute and Harry’s distance from his family isn’t measured in miles anymore,” he continued.

The royal expert concluded that: “Right now, William is focused on duty, Harry on grievance. William is building a future and he no longer needs Harry’s drama. You can’t bridge that gap when one brother is moving forward and the other won’t let go of the past and the bitterness. Reconciliation needs compromise, but it mostly needs trust, and there is no trust between the brothers.”