Prince William and younger brother Prince Harry, sons of King Charles III and the late Princess Diana, are only two years apart in age and have remained close all their lives — with notable exceptions. Both boys grew up under the loving care of their parents as well as nannies like Tiggy Pettifer, and attended first Ludgrove School and then Eton College before their paths diverged, with William going on to St. Andrews where he met Kate Middleton and Harry going on to officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. From the English social scene to royal engagements, the world watched Harry and William growing up together in photos, seemingly inseparable for so long — and then watched too, as a rift rarely captured in the pictures made itself known between the once-close siblings.
Related story A Look Back at the Most Moving Photos From Prince Philip's Funeral Related story A Look Back at the Most Moving Photos From Prince Philip's FuneralWith today’s ongoing feud, it’s easy to feel as though the worst has come to pass for Diana’s boys. Rumors of tensions between the two first began when Harry met Meghan Markle and proposed soon thereafter, allegedly against William’s advice to take things more slowly. From there, reasons as to why the two might be at odds grew more and more far-fetched until the Sussexes’ 2020 exit from the royal family made it perfectly clear where the two might disagree. In Harry and Meghan’s March 2021 Oprah interview, and Prince Harry’s tell-all memoir Spare, it was made more explicit than ever, and for the world to see. Ever since their accusations of racism and neglect from the royal family, Harry’s relationship with William has reportedly been more strained than ever, with the latter feeling humiliated and unwilling to continue these talks on a global stage.
As we saw with Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, and King Charles’ coronation, putting Harry and William in the same place doesn’t guarantee a happy reunion, and the brothers will be treading new territory as they (and if they) attempt to forge a new relationship an ocean apart, one royal and the other not. With all their shared history, we’ll never stop hoping for these two to be back on good terms.
As we look back at photos of Harry and William growing up together over the years, we’ll be thinking of their next reunion to come and hoping for a glimpse at some reconciliation.
A version of this article was originally published in May 2021.
With Mom Princess Diana (1987)
Prince William and Prince Harry cuddled up to mom Princess Diana in this adorable photo taken at the Royal Palace on the island of Mallorca, Spain, in 1987.
Wetherby School (1989)
6-year-old William gets a handshake from the headmistress of Wetherby School in Notting Hill in this sweet pic.
In Niagara Falls (1991)
The royal princes enjoyed a boat ride on the Maid of Mist in Niagara Falls with their mom in 1991.
Natural History Museum (1992)
Diana taking her 10-year-old and 8-year-old boys on a day at the museum will always have a place in our hearts.
VE Day 50th Anniversary Celebrations in Hyde Park (1995)
Prince Charles and Prince William share a joke, while Princess Diana and Prince Harry look on during the VE Day 50th Anniversary Celebrations in Hyde Park.
Royal Naval College (1997)
15-year-old William and 13-year-old Harry are growing into little teens in this pic from Queen Elizabeth II’s and the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh’s anniversary.
Book Signing in Canada (1998)
Wherever they are, Harry and William can usually be found sharing a sneaky laugh.
Party at the Palace Concert (2002)
Harry and William once again seen cracking up at a concert for Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee.
Hyde Park (2004)
When it comes to occasions celebrating Diana, like the opening of a fountain built in her honor in Hyde Park in 2004, Harry and William are always more serious.
Swiss Ski Resort (2005)
Harry and William are as jovial as ever on their annual ski trip with dad Prince Charles.
Red Cross Depot (2005)
This is what the world needs more of right now: Harry and William in matching Red Cross sweaters helping out the needy.
Prince Charles & Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall’s Wedding (2005)
23-year-old William and 21-year-old Harry are waiting with the public as Charles and Camilla leave St. George’s Chapel in Windsor.
Concert for Diana (2007)
10 years after their mother’s death, Harr yand William came on stage at this concert in her honor at the Wembley stadium in London.
‘Quantum of Solace’ Premiere (2008)
The matching lapel flowers are almost too much at this dashing James Bond premiere.
Royal Air Forcebase (2009)
The brothers in uniform almost managed to keep a straight face for this one!
Mokolodi Nature Reserve (2010)
Harry’s having way too much fun teasing William with this African Rock Python on a royal trip to Botswana.
Prince William’s Wedding (2011)
Harry was best man at William’s 2011 wedding to Kate.
Diamond Jubilee (2012)
There’s nothing better than seeing your sibling getting along well with your new spouse.
BGC Partners Trading Floor (2013)
Who knew pretending to be a stockbroker could be so much fun?
Building Site in Manchester (2015)
Just two brothers on a construction site, hanging out.
Kensington Palace Garden (2017)
Rainy day? No problem. These two British boys know the importance of carrying a sturdy umbrella.
London Marathon Training Day (2017)
Prince Harry and Prince William’s competitive sides came out when they ran a race during this London Marathon training day in February 2017.
‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ Premiere (2017)
Looking sharp, gents. The tuxedos came out for this 2017 Star Wars premiere.
Christmas Day Church Service (2017)
Both Harry and William are looking after their wives here on a walk they’ve made so many times before with only a dream of what their lives might someday become.
Prince Harry’s Wedding (2018)
Prince William was right by his brother’s side on the day of Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018.
Trooping the Colour (2018)
Back in July 2018, things still looked bright for the Fab Four…and hopefully, one day they will again.
Unveiling Princess Diana’s Statue (2021)
On July 1, 2021, Prince William and Prince Harry commemorated what would have been their mother’s 60th birthday with a statue unveiling at the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace. The brothers walked together through Kensington Palace’s gardens, sharing an intimate conversation.
Remember Their Mother on her 60th Birthday (2021)
On what would have been Princess Diana’s 60th birthday, The Duke of Cambridge (left) and Duke of Sussex look at a statue they commissioned of their mother Diana, Princess of Wales, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace. The brothers collaborated on the project, and marveled at the final result.
Honoring Queen Elizabeth II (2022)
Over a year later, the brothers set aside their ongoing differences to honor the Queen after her passing. They joined one another with Kate and Meghan at Windsor Castle for a show of unity, which is what their grandmother would have wanted.
Taking in Tributes (2022)
The brothers and their wives admired the many, many tributes left at Windsor Castle by the public for Her Majesty. William pointed one out to Harry, making conversation with his brother — a rare sight amid the past few years of their feud.
Together, But Distanced (2022)
During the procession of Queen Elizabeth’s casket from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall, William and Harry walked alongside one another, but couldn’t have looked further apart. Both wore somber expressions — a telling sign of their grief.
Side By Side (2023)
During the procession, the royal brothers kept close but didn’t share many glances, let alone talk to one another. A silence that speaks volumes.
Grieving Their Grandmother (2022)
Once Queen Elizabeth’s casket reached its resting place at Westminster Hall prior to her state funeral, an official ceremony was conducted in her honor. Harry, standing behind William, looked stricken by grief, while William looked on with emotional respect.
Fully Distanced (2023)
Like Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, Prince Harry and Prince William were quite far from one another during their father King Charles III’s Coronation. It’s unknown if they even talked to one another during the ceremony, but it’s considered unlikely since Harry quickly left after the ceremony.
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