The media was abuzz with heartwarming images of Prince William enjoying a joyful beach day with his three young children on his 42nd birthday. The headlines celebrated the candid, loving moments captured as the future king frolicked in the sand and surf with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. The positive, relatable coverage of William’s family celebration stood in stark contrast to the often negative press surrounding Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle.
Sources close to the Duke of Sussex claim that Harry was seething with jealousy over the adoration and attention lavished upon his older brother. Harry reportedly felt that he and Meghan had worked just as hard, if not harder, than William and Kate Middleton to be good role models and give back to important causes, yet the Cambridges always seemed to garner the lion’s share of positive media attention.
The growing distance and rivalry between the once close brothers has only intensified in recent years, since Harry and Meghan’s dramatic exit from royal life in 2020. Harry is said to view William’s success and happiness as a personal slight against him, unable to understand why the public is so enthralled by the Cambridges’ seemingly perfect family life.
The insider explained that the candid beach photos, in particular, struck a nerve with the Duke of Sussex. The joyful, relaxed images of William laughing and playing with his children stood in stark contrast to the more formal, staged photos typically seen of Harry, Meghan, and their own two children, Archie and Lilibet. Harry reportedly ranted about how William and Kate are able to maintain a fun, relatable royal image, while he and Meghan are constantly painted as stiff and out-of-touch.
Despite the Sussexes’ own efforts to cultivate a more casual, down-to-earth public persona, the insider claimed that the public simply responds better to the Cambridges’ traditional, family-focused approach. This is a source of deep resentment for Harry, who has long felt overshadowed by his elder brother’s inherent advantages as the future king.
The birthday beach photos also served as a painful reminder to Harry of the special family moments he has missed out on since stepping back from royal life. While William gets to enjoy regular, informal outings with his children, Harry and Meghan’s interactions with Archie and Lilibet tend to be more limited and carefully stage-managed for the public. Harry used to revel in the role of the fun, goofy uncle, but now feels disconnected from that part of his family.
Ultimately, the insider suggested that Harry will forever wonder “what if” – what if he had never left the royal family? Would he be just as beloved as William? Would he still get to have those cherished moments with his niece and nephews? As the rift between the brothers deepens, and the public’s adoration of the Cambridges only grows, it seems Harry’s feelings of isolation and resentment are unlikely to subside anytime soon. The dreams of freedom and happiness that motivated his departure have been replaced by a gnawing sense of regret and envy as he watches William thrive in the role Harry once occupied.