Once upon a time, Prince William and Prince Harry presented a united front, but now their relationship is far from the idyllic bond one would expect between brothers.
The relationship took a nosedive after Harry and Meghan relinquished their royal duties and began divulging details about the royal family, even leveling accusations of racism. While the true extent of the damage to their relationship remains uncertain, it seems clear that the rift between them won’t be mended anytime soon, as the anger and resentment still run deep. Presently, the royal family is facing difficult times, with two key members, the King and Catherine, the Princess of Wales, dealing with health issues.
After rampant speculation about her well-being and her absence from the public eye, Kate decided to put an end to the rumors and disclose her medical condition. She revealed that she had cancer.
“In January, I had major abdominal surgery in London, and initially, it was believed that my condition was non-cancerous,” she stated in a video released on Friday.
Kate further elaborated in the video that subsequent tests following her scheduled abdominal surgery detected cancer.
“My medical team recommended that I undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy, and I am currently in the early stages of that treatment,” she said. “This was an enormous shock, and William and I have been doing our best to handle this privately for the sake of our young family.”
The Sussexes, Harry and Meghan, were among those who reached out to Charles and Kate. Following the announcement of Kate’s diagnosis, Harry and Meghan issued a formal statement, and it has also been reported that they made private contact.
Royal expert and author Tom Quinn commented: “Harry and Meghan have been in touch with William, but their private message was merely an expression of sympathy and did not imply any intention of the brothers reconciling or that Harry should return to the UK soon.”
Quinn added that William’s response to his brother’s message was not the warm and familiar exchange one might anticipate between two siblings who had shared so much.
“There is too much bitterness for that. William, still wounded by Harry’s past remarks, replied, but the response was evidently coordinated by the palace and lacked the warmth and informality typical of a brotherly conversation. It was more akin to the communication between two cautious diplomats.”
There are varying accounts of how Harry and Meghan learned of Kate’s cancer diagnosis. Some sources suggest they were informed before Kate’s public video, while others contend they found out at the same time as the general public.
During these challenging times for the British royal family, we can only hope that the brothers will find a way to reconcile and set aside their differences.