Princess Diana would have been devastated that her sons Prince William and Prince Harry no longer speak, one royal expert has claimed.
"Diana, who I met a couple of times, would be absolutely distraught to see her sons feuding in the way that they have been feuding," Tom Quinn remarked to the Mirror. "They used to fight like cat and dog sometimes when they were young, but this was just normal boy rough-and-tumble."
Dubbing their current feud "really poisonous," Quinn added of their late mother, "Diana would’ve been deeply upset by it. But she would also have been angry—she would have banged their heads together!"
Earlier this week, royal expert Charles Rae also expressed his dismay at the state of the royal brothers' relationship—especially when it comes to William being supported by his inner circle when the time comes for him to take the throne.
"They were really, really close. And this is what makes it so sad that they're now so far apart," Rae said. "When William becomes King, I always believed Harry would be one of his top advisers. I think that's out of the window."
With that said, some commentators might see Quinn's and Rae's as a somewhat romanticized view, given that William and Harry have reportedly shown signs of a much more significant rift than run-of-the-mill sibling rivalry since as far back as 2002.
Royal biographer Robert Lacey recently claimed that the two went through periods of "no speaks" over the course of the 2000s, and that their relationship was definitely not that rosy at the time.
Stay In The Know
Marie Claire email subscribers get intel on fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more. Sign up here.
This clashes with the widespread narrative that it was Meghan Markle's arrival into the Royal Family—followed by the Sussexes' departure from the country—that drove the brothers apart. If Lacey is to be believed, their difficulties go way back, and have nothing to do with who married who.
Iris Goldsztajn is a London-based journalist, editor and author. She is the morning editor at Marie Claire, and her work has appeared in the likes of InStyle, Cosmopolitan, Bustle and Shape. Iris writes about everything from celebrity news and relationship advice to the pitfalls of diet culture and the joys of exercise. She has many opinions on Harry Styles, and can typically be found eating her body weight in cheap chocolate.
-
King Charles Reveals He’s Experienced a Loss of Taste as a Side Effect of His Treatment for Cancer
He has been undergoing treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer since February.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Katie Holmes Gears Up for a Biker Chick Spring
She mixed up her usual wardrobe staples with a tough leather jacket.
By Halie LeSavage Published
-
30 Minimalist Accessories That Exude Sophistication
The perfect finishing touch.
By Emma Walsh Published
-
Prince Harry Would “Love to Reconnect” with Princess Kate—But Royal Biographer Says Prince William Won’t Have It
“Harry was hit hard by the news of her cancer diagnosis,” according to Christopher Andersen.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Meghan Markle Wears Princess Diana's Cross Necklace During Mother's Day Weekend
The duchess made a powerful statement.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Prince Harry Reportedly Declined King Charles' Offer to Stay in a Royal Residence on U.K. Visit
The plot thickens.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Princess Diana Didn’t Just Dance with John Travolta During That Famous Night at the White House—She Danced with Tom Selleck, Too
“I gotta say, she seemed to be having the time of her life,” Selleck said of their turn on the dance floor in 1985.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Land in Nigeria After Briefly Reuniting in London
They have a full program for their three days in the West African country.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Royal Biographers Claim King Charles Wasn’t Interested in the “Media Circus” or “PR Opportunity” Surrounding a Meetup with Prince Harry
Even the Archbishop of Canterbury has weighed in on this culturally pervasive matter, which has captivated attention this week.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Prince Harry Was Reportedly “In Tears” When He Learned That King Charles Gave Prince William a Role That, Had Harry Remained a Working Member of the Royal Family, Would Have Likely Been Given to Him
“The announcement was deliberately made during Harry’s brief visit to the U.K. to have maximum impact.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
Prince Harry Invited King Charles, Prince William, and Princess Kate to His Invictus Games Event—But the King Reportedly Ordered Working Royals to Attend His Garden Party Instead
“Invictus is clearly exactly the kind of organization the royal family should be supporting.”
By Rachel Burchfield Published