KATE Middleton and Prince William are ‘deeply upset’ with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry as they ‘go through tragedy’, claims a royal author.
With the Princess of Wales, 42, undergoing preventative treatment for cancer and King Charles, 75, only recently getting back into royal duties after his cancer diagnosis, royal expert Tom Bower recognised the ‘huge pressure’ on Prince William.
But not only this, the royal pro also claimed that this ‘pressure’ isn’t helped by how insensitive Prince Harry, 39, and Meghan Markle, 42, appear to be.
As the Waleses deal with arguably the most difficult time of their lives, Tom Bower claimed that the Sussexes’ new ventures are ‘rubbing salt in the wound’ for Kate and Will.
Speaking exclusively to Woman, Tom shared why he believes William to be ‘furious’ with Harry, as he said: “Not only is there the pressure on William, but also the constant sniping from California.
“I’m sure he’s furious with Harry, he’s behaved appalling.
Read more Royal stories
“Not only by the way he left England and exploited his royal connections but also his book - the things he said about the Waleses were so outrageous, rude, unfair and in my opinion, untrue. It’s a real struggle for the Waleses.”
Not only did Harry’s book Space claim that William 'attacked' Harry in a row over Meghan Markle, but it also claimed that William and Kate Middleton encouraged him to wear the infamous Nazi uniform.
While they’re establishing this so-called brand Sussex, the family here is going through torment
Tom Bower
Revelations aside, Tom claimed that Harry and Meghan may be feeling ‘secret glee’ at the situation.
After their recent trip to Nigeria, and the launch of Meghan's new Instagram brand, American Riviera Orchard, Tom added: “One just always feels like there may be some sort of secret glee in Montecito.
Most read in Royals
"While they’re establishing this so-called brand Sussex, the family here is going through torment.
“After Charles’ diagnosis, Harry came over for half an hour and that’s it, he’s done nothing else.
“I can imagine that Kate and William are deeply upset by having the Sussexes’ brand operation rubbed in their face while they’re going through this tragedy.”
Despite Tom’s claims, it has been previously reported that Kate is "excited" after being well enough to be briefed on the findings of a taskforce she set up to help the under 5s.
The mother-of-three has read a 60-page report on her early years project and is said to have been "kept up-to-date" with the work.
Kate launched The Royal Foundation Business Taskforce for Early Childhood in March last year.
In a speech at Natwest HQ she said it was time to think 'radically' in order to create a workforce that is 'resilient, flexible and able to work through differences with each other'.
Kate Middleton's health statement
Kate's emotional video statement reads: "I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you, personally, for all the understanding whilst I’ve been recovering from surgery.
"It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family but I have had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful.
"In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought my condition was non cancerous.
"The surgery was succesful.
"However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present.
"My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and i am now in the early stages of that treatment.
"This of course came as a huge shock.
"William and I have been doing everything we can to process this privately for the sake of our young family.
"As you can imagine this has taken time.
"It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment.
"But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte, and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them and to reassure them that I am going to be okay.
"As I have said to them; I am well and i’m getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind body and spirit.
"Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too.
"As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you.
"It means so much to us both.
"We hope that you will understand that as a family we now need some time space and privacy while I complete my treatment.
"My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now, I must focus on making a full recovery.
"At this time, I am also thinking of all those lives affected by cancer.
"For everyone facing this disease in whatever form please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone."
She added: "The healthy development of our children relies on healthy adults."
The Princess of Wales is said to be keen to see "momentum grow in the coming months and years" as the project she created "is rolling on as she recovers."
I can imagine that Kate and William are deeply upset by having the Sussexes’ brand operation rubbed in their face
Tom Bower
A spokesman for the Princess of Wales said: "This should not be seen as the Princess of Wales returning to work.
A timeline of Prince Harry's family feud
In 2018, the Sun told how "simmering tension
The first hints of friction reportedly came after William was introduced to Meghan when she was staying at Kensington Palace.
Once she'd returned home to Canada, William and Harry sat down for a brother-to-brother chat.
He knew Harry was already head-over-heels for her but it has been claimed he advised him to take it slowly.
The younger prince reportedly didn't take too kindly to the advice, with one royal source saying he "went mental".
Then in June 2019 Harry and Meghan officially split off from the charity they shared with William and Kate.
The Royal Foundation will be divided between the Sussexes and Cambridges as the couples focus on their own separate charitable endeavours.
Prince William and Prince Harry first established the Royal Foundation in 2009 before Kate joined two years later shortly after their engagement was announced.
The trio would often appear together at events and the Foundation had huge successes with projects like the Invictus Games for injured veterans and the mental health Heads Together campaign.
The Royal Foundation said the decision was made following the conclusion of a review into its structure - but added both couples will continue to work together in the future.
Harry and Meg were living in close proximity to Kate and Wills within the Kensington Palace estate, but they switched to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor before baby Archie was born.
The move further increased rumours of a fallout.
Harry, 39, also hinted in his ITV documentary "Harry and Meghan, An African Journey" that he and his brother had grown apart.
In 2021, Harry and Meghan give their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey where Harry accused his dad of cutting him off financially.
Harry then jetted back to UK to join William in unveiling a statue to their mother Princess Diana in the grounds of Kensington Palace. But sources claimed William didn’t want to attend the memorial amid their ongoing rift.
In 2022, just before their grandmother the Queen died, sources claimed Kate acts as a "peacemaker" between the brothers.
Harry claimed his brother "knocked him to the floor" during an argument about Meghan, in his memoir.
In Spare, Harry said William branded Meghan "rude" and "difficult" during a row.
Harry alleged William "grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and … knocked me to the floor".
He said he was left with a visible injury to his back following the argument in 2019 at Nottingham Cottage on the grounds of Kensington Palace, where he was living at the time.
In January this year, Harry flew in to be with Charles after the monarch's shock cancer diagnosis.
Harry flew back to the US the following day - without seeing Wills.
"The work of the prince and princess's projects are always on. That is no different at The Centre for Early Childhood Over the past five months there has been a huge deal of progress.
"However, early childhood is a huge priority for the Princess of Wales.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"She has been kept fully up to date throughout the process and the development of the task force's work and she has seen the report."
Fabulous will pay for your exclusive stories. Just email: [email protected] and pop EXCLUSIVE in the subject line.