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It was not uncommon for the British royal family to take part in thousands of engagements across the year both within the UK and around the globe. With four young royals - Prince William, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle - drawing the most attention from the press and public, the family was seen as revitalizing the monarchy for the 21st century. However, a lot has changed since 2018, when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from their senior royal roles and moved to North America.
As a result of Harry and Meghan's departure, the next generation - namely Prince William and Kate Middleton - have taken center stage in carrying out royal duties and representing the British monarchy. With fewer working royals conducting public engagements on behalf of the crown, more emphasis has been placed on those who remain, like William and Kate. This change has come at an extremely difficult time for the monarchy, which is facing its own struggles amid the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022.
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These days, it is Prince William who has shouldered greater responsibility as the heir apparent and future King. While Prince Harry was once known for his cheeky charm and military service, he is now best recognized for his legal battles against British tabloids. However, this family crisis saw the now Prince and Princess of Wales launch an unprecedented six-year legal campaign against invasion of privacy - one that only rarely made headlines. William was said to be overcome with anger and frustration, as he was forced to watch the same paparazzi forces that contributed to his mother's death torment his wife Kate in a similar way.
Despite the many differences and tensions that emerged between the brothers in recent years, there was a major breakthrough in their fractured relationship in July 2022. On Prince Harry's 40th birthday, both William and Kate took the significant step of publicly wishing the exiled Duke of Sussex a happy birthday via social media. Their message fueled hopes that reconciliation may be possible, after King Charles also wished his youngest son well on this milestone. According to sources close to the royal family, the king intended to personally call Prince Harry via video chat on his actual birthday to extend best wishes from across the Atlantic in California, where he now resides with his family.
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While the royal family members are undoubtedly not as close-knit as they once were in their youth, this gesture signals there is still love between them and a potential thawing of formerly frosty relations. However, it is believed that Prince Harry did not receive a similar birthday call from his estranged brother William, indicating the personal rift remains deeply fractured. Ordinary circumstances would suggest finding a way to repair family ties, but mending the broken relationship between the brothers appears immensely challenging. Beyond damaged trust on a personal level, their very different careers and lives now situated in separate nations have driven them far apart.
Back in 2011 when William married Kate, and in 2018 when Harry wed Meghan, the royal weddings seemed to herald a bright future with a new generation at the helm of the monarchy. Alongside their charitable work championing causes from mental health to the Commonwealth, the "Fab Four" revitalized the aging institution and captured global attention. However, things have taken a downward turn in recent times. Where the brothers were once inseparable, planning all milestones together, they no longer even speak to one another according to some reports. The fractures grew deeper last month when they reportedly did not engage during a rare in-person encounter at their aunt's funeral in the UK.
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While there remains hope that the royal family may be able to overcome their divisions in time, the current state of affairs represents a far cry from the bond shared between William and Harry in their younger years. What once seemed an unbreakable alliance has been broken, leaving the future of the monarchy with fewer support players as it enters a new, challenging era without the steadying presence of Queen Elizabeth II. Only time will tell if the roots of reconciliation can again take hold between the brothers, or if their rift proves too deep to heal following the many difficulties of recent years.
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