On June 4, Prince William traveled to Wattisham Air Base in Suffolk, England, where he spoke to soldiers from the Army Air Corps and presented a King’s Commendation for Valuable Service award. The former search and rescue pilot — who flew to and from the location in a reconnaissance Wildcat helicopter — looked handsome and at ease in military fatigues and a beret as he toured the facilities and watched training drills. William was given the title of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps by his father, King Charles, last May.
That same day, in Montecito, California, Prince Harry was also on public display — in a drastically different way. In honor of his daughter Lilibet’s 4th birthday, Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle, shared a throwback video to her Instagram account that showed the couple twerking in a hospital room while waiting for a very pregnant Meghan to go into labor. “When spicy food, all that walking, and acupuncture didn’t work — there was only one thing left to do,” she wrote alongside the now-viral clip, in which they’re seen getting down to “Baby Mama” by Starrkeisha.
The contrast between the estranged brothers could not be more striking. Had Harry remained a working royal, it likely would have been him at Wattisham Air Base — he flew Apache helicopters there during his time in the British army. But since leaving his royal duties behind in 2020, the 40-year-old has made a new life alongside Meghan, 43, and their two children (they are also parents to son Archie, 6) in the States. William, 42, is busy preparing for his future as the king of England while balancing being a husband to Princess Kate, 43, and a hands-on dad to their three children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7. “Harry and Meghan are highlighting a life of fun and lightness while William’s is dominated by duty and public service,” a royal insider exclusively tells Us Weekly. “They are worlds apart.”
Night and Day
Harry’s Montecito lifestyle bears little resemblance to his years spent in his native U.K. “He enjoys the freedom he didn’t have as a working royal,” says royal commentator Amanda Matta. “He’s parenting on his own terms and can go on bike rides or date nights without the British press tracking his every move.” Meghan’s social media return offers an eagle-eyed view into Harry’s new normal — in photos and videos, he can be seen running on the beach with Archie and Lili, going on rides at Disneyland and enjoying a Beyoncé concert. In a June 17 appearance on the “Aspire with Emma Grede” podcast, Meghan — who launched her new lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan, and As Ever product line in March — said she’s “grateful” she can share family content “on my own terms.”
Across the pond, William is all about fulfilling his royal duty. “He’s embracing his new role as Prince of Wales,” says royal historian Marlene Koenig, who believes the father of three has found his groove, especially with Kate back in action. (Kate revealed she’s cancer free in September; Charles, 76, is still undergoing treatment.) “William goes about his job as heir to the throne without complaint,” says Koenig. “He understands the assignment: He supports the king but is also paving his own path to the top job.”
In July, he and Kate are set to join Charles to host French president Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, at Windsor Castle, and President Donald Trump is expected for a state visit in September. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams says the pressure on William is “unrelenting,” but he’s up to the task. “He’s well prepared to take on the responsibility of being king,” he says. “He’s an accomplished diplomat, and his popularity here and in the U.S. is huge.”
Bitterness Remains
Five years after Harry’s departure, there is lingering resentment. “Harry left a large gap in William’s world, not just personally but practically,” explains the insider. “The whole idea was for Harry to work hand-in-hand with William and to divide and conquer during William’s monarchy. So Harry not being there is tough. He feels deserted by his brother — not that he would ever say that out loud.” In Harry’s absence, the insider says William plans to lean more on his cousins Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
Matta says that while William isn’t jealous of Harry’s new life, he has borrowed a page from his younger brother’s playbook: “We’ve seen William take selective time away from the public eye to protect his wife and children, carve out personal days and assert more control over his platform,” Matta tells Us. “It’s a quieter, more measured version of Harry’s break.”
For Harry, there are regrets — not about leaving The Firm, but about all that was lost in the shuffle, including his relationships with William and his father, many of his old friends, as well as his military titles and his patronages. Koenig says Harry has yet to figure out his next act outside of royalty. “He hasn’t been entirely successful, especially in terms of earning money for the family. That seems to have fallen on Meghan,” Koenig says. (While With Love, Meghan was renewed for a second season, Meghan’s podcast, “Confessions of a Female Founder,” is on an indefinite hiatus as she focuses on her As Ever brand.)
No Turning Back
The distance between the brothers continues to grow wider. “The more time passes, the more William and Harry seem to be settling into their respective lives,” says Matta, adding that there is “no open conflict, just radio silence.” (Fitzwilliams says the siblings “are not in contact and haven’t been for a while.”) For now, they’re forging ahead on their own paths. “A formal return [to royal life] for Harry feels incredibly unlikely,” notes Matta. “Especially if we’re talking about William offering his brother a way back. The trust isn’t there.” Koening adds: “William and Harry are separated by more than an ocean. There are no plans for a reconciliation. They are two brothers living very separate lives.”
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