The Princess of Wales won’t play peacemaker with Prince Harry ahead of Christmas celebrations, according to a royal expert who claims Catherine has been left “deeply hurt” by his actions.
This is despite her previous attempts to gently draw Harry back into the royal fold during key events such as Prince Philip’s funeral, where Kate was seen walking in between Harry and Prince William.
Royal expert Jenny Bond told Fabulous Harry’s memoir Spare has proven to be the final straw.
“Catherine was deeply hurt by some of the things Harry said about her, particularly in his book.
“Unfortunately because of these entrenched positions, where neither side seems to want to make contact or the first move, I can’t see this rift healing any time soon,” Bond told Fabulous
“Catherine has played the peacemaker in the past and has brought William and Harry together, and I think that comes from her own family, and their values,” she continued.
“But I think she has got to a stage whereby she has had to take a step back, things have gone too far, and she feels upset and, quite frankly, hurt and insulted.”
Spare was released in January 2023 and included yet another rehash of Kate’s fallout with Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, ahead of the royal wedding in 2018
Previously it had been reported that Meghan left Kate in tears ahead of the nuptials after the pair had a row over Princess Charlotte’s flower girl dress.
Meghan refuted these reports during the couple’s interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021, alleging it was the other way around.
Kate left her in tears and apologised later, sending her flowers.
Harry wrote about the incident and many others in his book, including Kate grimacing when Meghan asked to borrow her lip gloss.
“Something we should’ve been able to laugh about soon after,” he wrote. “But it left a little mark.”
Of the flower girl dress incident, he wrote his version of conversations that purportedly took place between Meghan and Kate, painting Kate as demanding.
“A short time later I arrived home and found Meg on the floor. Sobbing.”
He left no doubt as to who he held responsible for his bride-to-be’s state that day. Although he included Kate’s apology via flowers and a card, the damage was done.
“I think Catherine was hurt by Harry claim that she made Meghan cry during a fitting for Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress, and again by Meghan’s view, which was relayed by Harry, that she found Catherine and William standoffish, a bit cold, when they first met,” Bond said.
This was a far cry from the relationship he had previously painted with his sister-in-law, at times referring to her as the “sister he never had.”
“A short time later I arrived home and found Meg on the floor. Sobbing.”
He left no doubt as to who he held responsible for his bride-to-be’s state that day. Although he included Kate’s apology via flowers and a card, the damage was done.
“I think Catherine was hurt by Harry claim that she made Meghan cry during a fitting for Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress, and again by Meghan’s view, which was relayed by Harry, that she found Catherine and William standoffish, a bit cold, when they first met,” Bond said.
This was a far cry from the relationship he had previously painted with his sister-in-law, at times referring to her as the “sister he never had.”
Harry would often join William and Kate during official events, laughing and smiling along with his brother and sister-in-law as they joined activities and worked for the monarchy.
Following Harry and Meghan’s resignation from the monarchy in January 2020 and subsequent relocation to the US, the Prince and Princess of Wales have been busier than ever with more work to do and less royals to do it.
Bond says Kate isn’t just upset at Harry’s claims about her, but about William as well, many of which he described in detail in the book.
“I think Catherine has been badly hurt by Harry’s brutal attacks on William, like his decision to reveal so much of what went on during their disagreements, and by the claim that someone in the royal family questioned the tone of unborn Archie’s skin, it was such a generalised claim that it hurt the whole family,” Bond explained.
“I think Catherine and William have jointly decided that they will carry on with family life and work, and for most of the time, they don’t think about Harry very much, and I expect vice versa.
“I can’t see an olive branch being extended from either side any time soon.”
The British royals are expected to enjoy a quiet Christmas this year, their second since the death of Queen Elizabeth in September 2022.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their children Archie, four, and Lilibet, two, aren’t expected to join them, although there is speculation King Charles will extend an invitation to his youngest son.
