Former Palace Aide Speaks Out on Prince William and Harry's 'Sad' Feud

The once-close bond between Prince William and Prince Harry has been strained for years, with tensions escalating after Harry's marriage to Meghan Markle and their eventual exit from royal duties. While much has been speculated about their falling out, a former palace aide who worked closely with both brothers has now spoken out.

Knauf Breaks His Silence

Jason Knauf, a former communications secretary for William and Harry, recently gave a rare interview discussing the feud with "60 Minutes Australia," shedding new light on the deepening divide between the future king and the Duke of Sussex.

Knauf, who worked for both William and Harry before stepping down from royal service in 2021, shared his thoughts on the feud, though he remained careful not to reveal too much.

"It's very difficult to have this stuff play out in the public eye, but (William)'s chosen to keep his thoughts on it private, and I think all of us who know him really have to respect that we should do the same," Knauf said, according to PEOPLE. "But I will say, of course, it's been hard and sad, especially for all of us who know both of them," he continued.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, June 2013. Photo by Carfax2 under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Knauf worked closely with both brothers and their wives, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle. He later became the chief executive of William and Kate's Royal Foundation before stepping down from his royal role in 2021. He now serves on the board of trustees for Prince William's Earthshot Prize.

How the Royal Feud Began

The relationship between William and Harry reportedly started to break down in 2016 when William expressed concerns about how quickly Harry's relationship with Meghan was progressing. Those concerns allegedly led to resentment from Harry, and tensions only grew over time.

Things took a more serious turn in 2020 when Harry and Meghan announced their decision to step back from their royal duties and move to California. The couple cited the intense media scrutiny and racism Meghan faced by the British media as factors in their decision.

Harry later revealed additional details about the tension between him and his brother in his 2023 memoir, "Spare." In one passage, he claimed that during a heated argument in 2019, William called Meghan "difficult" and "rude" before grabbing Harry by the collar and knocking him down, causing him to fall onto a dog bowl and suffer cuts and bruises, according to Fox News.

After Prince Philip's funeral in 2021, their father, King Charles, reportedly begged them to reconcile, saying, "Please, boys, don't make my final years a misery," according to Fox News.

Harry's Attempts to Reconnect

Despite the ongoing feud, Harry has reportedly tried to reconnect with his family — but sources told PEOPLE that his calls and letters to King Charles have gone unanswered, and his attempts to reach William have been ignored.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, along with other members of the royal family, at church in Sandringham on Christmas Day 2017. Photo courtesy of Mark Jones under CC BY 2.0.

The brothers have only appeared together a few times since Harry's royal exit. Their most recent public appearance together was at a memorial service for their uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes, in August 2023, though they reportedly avoided each other.

One of their last public displays of unity was in September 2022 when they greeted mourners outside Windsor Castle after the death of their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Jason Knauf's Reflection on the Royals

Despite the feud, Knauf spoke fondly of his time working with both brothers. He recalled Harry and Meghan's 2018 wedding as an "amazing, magical experience," as reported by PEOPLE.

"I worked really closely with the two of them, and we had lots of great times," he said, according to PEOPLE. When asked about whether Harry's role could change once William becomes king, Knauf declined to speculate. "I can't speculate about the future. They achieved a lot together, and none of that can ever be taken away," he said, as reported by Fox News.

Knauf also reflected on the challenges William has faced in recent months. He described how the prince received the devastating news that both his father and his wife had cancer within weeks of each other.

"If you're Prince William, you find out that both your wife and your father have cancer," Knauf said, according to PEOPLE. "And that is — I mean, I couldn't believe it."

Recalling a phone call about Princess Kate's diagnosis, Knauf described it as "absolutely awful. It's the lowest I've ever seen him."

Can the Rift Be Repaired?

While sources have described William and Harry's relationship as "very bad," some believe the damage is not "irreparable," PEOPLE reports. However, with William remaining silent and Harry's attempts at reconciliation going unanswered, the future of their relationship remains uncertain.
As the royal family faces ongoing personal and public challenges, the question remains: Will the brothers ever be able to rebuild their once-close bond?

References: Prince Harry and Prince William's Former Royal Aide Breaks Silence on the Brothers' 'Sad' Rift | Prince Harry, Prince William's former palace aide gives rare interview on 'sad' royal rift between brothers