William and Kate first showed signs of ‘tension’ brewing between them and Harry and Meghan during a forum in 2018, royal author Robert Jobson writes in his new book

Harry, Meghan, Kate and William attended the Royal Foundation Forum together in 2018 (

Prince William and Princess Kate ‘looked decidedly uncomfortable’ during an early sighting of the Fab Four, according to a new royal book.

A biography written by Robert Johnson, titled Catherine, The Princess of Wales, details how rumours of a conflict between the Waleses and Sussexes first came about in the public eye. Jobson, a 25-year royal reporter and the royal editor of the London Evening Standard, writes how there were “clear tensions” among the foursome on TV in February 2018.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle joined William and Kate at the Royal Foundation Forum where they were asked by a journalist about family disagreements. The Prince of Wales kept his answer vague and said he didn’t know if their most recent dispute had been resolved, but said: “We’re stuck together for the rest of our lives.”

The Fab Four last appeared in public together to greet members of the public after the late Queen passed ( 
Image:
AP)
Looking at their body language, Jobson wrote: “Harry was clearly smitten with Meghan. He appeared in awe of her intellect and public speaking skills. William and Catherine, however, appeared unsettled. They shuffled in their seats and looked decidedly uncomfortable. Cracks began to appear from that moment.”

Their sibling rivalry heated up following Harry and Meghan’s exit from the Royal Family in 2020. The palace swiftly released a statement on behalf of the late Queen Elizabeth that asserted the Sussexes are “much-loved family members” but noted that “some recollections may vary” about the couple’s assertions about their time as working royals, which would be “addressed privately”.

While Harry has since returned to the UK for landmark occasions, including the funerals of his grandparents, as well as celebratory occasions such as the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the King’s Coronation, the ice has yet to thaw between the Duke and the rest of his family.

But Harry and Meghan have been fiercely critical of the monarchy in the public eye; from their notorious Oprah interview and Netflix series to Harry’s bombshell memoir, Spare. Harry told Oprah that he and William were on ‘different paths’.

The brothers reportedly have a ‘non-existent’ relationship but Harry has recently attempted to build bridges ( 
Image:
Getty Images)
Afterwards, he claimed in his book that the brothers had a physical altercation at Frogmore Cottage over the former Suits star’s behaviour. Harry claimed William ‘lunged’ at him and ‘grabbed’ his shirt during the confrontation. It came after the Fab Four temporarily held a ceasefire and stepped out for the last time on the Long Walk in Windsor to mark the death of the late Queen.

The King’s royal butler Grant Harrold has said that Harry and William now have a ‘non-existent’ relationship. The 45-year-old worked with Harry and William when they were in their late teenage years and early twenties. He said he “liked the way they got on with each other.”

Grant recalled: “And that’s what’s so sad about it now, how they’ve gone from best of friends to non-existent really. They have become so distant. I know quite a few of Harry’s friends, who don’t hear from him at all now either.”

But Harry has reportedly reached out to his sister-in-law this month and wrote her a personal note after seeing her appear at Wimbledon in the hope of finally preparing their estranged relationship. A source told Heat: “Harry was watching Wimbledon and was thrilled to see Kate looking so radiant. He sent her a note to congratulate her and let her know how happy he was to see her out. He’s just so grateful that she’s on the mend and able to get back to her duties after taking time off – as is Meghan.”

The insider further claimed that Harry believes this is the perfect time to “try and repair” his and Meghan’s relationship with his brother and sister-in-law. “Even though it’s an awkward situation for all of them, they both think the sooner they can put this all behind them, the better,” the source added to the publication. “Harry can’t believe it ever got to this point – he genuinely thought that by now they’d have found a way to reconcile and he hates to think of it continuing.”