He also claimed that Catherine and Sophie — then the Countess of Wessex and now the Duchess of Edinburgh — had “attempted to assist Meghan as she assimilated into royal life,” though their “repeated attempts” were said to have gone unanswered.

Relations deteriorated further as Meghan became a frequent target on social media “owing to her biracial heritage.” According to Myers, Harry subsequently “demanded” that steps be taken to secure taxpayer-funded security for her.

When he was informed that such protection would only be granted upon marriage, Harry was reportedly incensed and sought support from both William and Charles.

Myers writes that Harry believed the situation to be unfair, pointing out that Catherine had “not only received unofficial guidance from the palace when she was his brother’s girlfriend, but that she had also qualified for round-the-clock protection” once she became engaged to William.

When additional security was not approved — with Charles declining to intervene and William offering no backing — the rift between the brothers began to deepen.

Catherine, long regarded as a calming influence in earlier disagreements, is said to have eventually concluded that there was little more she could do.

“At first she had thought William and Harry’s squabbles were rooted in immaturity or stubbornness, on both sides, but Harry and Meghan’s attitude towards palace staff, who she and William cared about, set the couples on an entirely different course,” Myers said.

The Fallout

While the Royal Family has never publicly detailed the breakdown that ultimately led the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to step back from royal duties and move to California in 2020, Harry and Meghan have spoken openly about their grievances.

In their 2021 interview with Oprah, the Sussexes alleged racism within the Royal Family. Harry later wrote in his 2023 memoir, Spare, that he and William had a physical altercation after his brother described Meghan as “rude,” “difficult” and “abrasive.”

Last year, Harry — who continues to campaign for his family to receive taxpayer-funded security in the UK — told the BBC that there have been “so many disagreements” within the family.

However, he maintained that the “only thing that’s left” is the dispute over security, describing it as having “always been the sticking point.”