Kate Middleton has been ‘hurt and insulted’ by Harry and Meghan and she and Prince William have ‘closed their minds’ to mending family rift, royal expert claims

The Prince and Princess of Wales have ‘closed their minds’ to the possibility that a rift with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle can be fixed, a royal expert has said.   

Jennie Bond, the former BBC royal correspondent, added it was clear that Kate Middleton ‘has been hurt and insulted by things that Harry and Meghan have said’.

She described how Prince William and his wife had attempted to heal the rift in the Royal Family at Prince Philip’s funeral in April 2021, but after a ‘blazing row’ it became clear it wasn’t possible.

Ms Bond told OK Magazine: ‘There comes a point when you just have to accept that happy families are not a game that everyone can play.

‘Catherine has been hurt and insulted by things that Harry and Meghan have said, but she and William are a very strong team, and I suspect that, together, they’ve come to the conclusion that the rift with Harry cannot be fixed in the foreseeable future. 

‘They’ve closed their minds to that possibility and decided to get on with their lives.’

The rift between Prince Harry and Prince William first emerged in 2019, when they confirmed they had taken ‘different paths’ in life.

This deepened in January 2020, when Harry and Meghan formally stepped down as working members of the Royal Family and moved to California, where they remain.

Though Prince Harry has since returned to the UK on a number of occasions – such as after the deaths of Prince Philip and the late Queen – the rift hasn’t been sealed.

The group – once dubbed the ‘Fab Four’ – were even photographed together at a funeral service for the late Queen in Windsor.

However, it is likely a number of claims made in a documentary series released by Meghan and Harry – and in the prince’s book, Spare – have heightened tensions. 

Ms Bond said that, like his father, ‘William can be quite hot headed, but Catherine is adept at calming him down’.

She added that she’s sure William and Kate are ‘a great support to one another and that Catherine is the most incredible source of encouragement for William’.

Their marriage is founded on ‘enduring friendship’, the royal expert said. 

Jennie Bond, the former BBC royal correspondent, added it was clear that Kate Middleton ‘has been hurt and insulted by things that Harry and Meghan have said’

She described how Prince William and his wife had attempted to heal the rift in the Royal Family at Prince Philip ‘s funeral in April 2021, but after a ‘blazing row’ it became clear it wasn’t possible

‘I’m sure William has called on the strength of that friendship to help him come to terms with the loss of his wingman, his brother.’

It comes as Buckingham Palace today denied reports that King Charles could be forced to let Prince Harry stay at Kensington Palace next time he visits the UK.

The dispute comes amid alleged tensions surrounding the Duke of Sussex’s role as counsellor-of-state, which makes him one of seven members of the royal family who could deputise for the King if he is abroad or unwell. 

By law, counsellors of state, which also include Princess Anne and Prince Edward, are required to have a home in Britain but California-based Harry, is effectively homeless in the UK after being evicted from Frogmore Cottage earlier this year.

The rift between Prince Harry and Prince William first emerged in 2019, when they confirmed they had taken ‘different paths’ in life

Though Prince Harry has since returned to the UK on a number of occasions – such as after the deaths of Prince Philip and the late Queen – the rift apparently remains

In a bid to resolve the issue, sources claimed royal courtiers have discussed leasing a property on a royal estate to Harry and Meghan.

Royal sources told The Sunday Times that one option is an apartment at Kensington Palace, where Prince William and Kate have a home and private office. But these suggestions were quickly shut down.

A friend of Charles said: ‘The King can see that to remove Harry as a counsellor of state would be seen as an act of antagonism and he does not want to do that. 

‘If, as a consequence of that, somewhere on the royal estate needs to be earmarked as a pied-à-terre for his son, that seems a reasonable thing to do.’

Buckingham Palace refuted the idea, telling the newspaper bluntly: ‘These claims are not true’.