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Why Prince William and Prince Harry Need Each Other, According to Royal Author Tina Brown

Plus details about their relationship

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It’s no secret that the royal family hasn’t been the same since Prince Harry stepped down as a senior royal and moved to California. But how did Prince Harry’s departure affect his brother, Prince William?

prince harry william relationship tina brown
DOMINIC LIPINSKI/POOL/AFP/Getty Images

On the latest episode of Royally Obsessed (listen below), podcast co-hosts Roberta Fiorito and Rachel Bowie sat down with royal expert Tina Brown, who’s the author of The Diana Chronicles and The Palace Papers. Brown shared her thoughts about the brothers and the current status of their relationship.

“I think people have really underestimated how tough it is for William,” Brown said in the episode (see below). “I don’t think he looks very happy, quite honestly. I think he misses Harry, despite the racket between them.”

“These two, they were the only people who knew what it was like to be them. And in the end, Harry was the only person who could talk to William absolutely as a peer. Everybody else is subservient,” Brown added. “There is nobody else who understands what it’s like to be William...except Harry.”

She continued, “I think it’s a big hole in his life. And I also think frankly that his life has become so much harder without Harry to take some of the burden.”

Brown also explained how Prince Harry’s absence has affected Prince William. “[William] made a giant mistake, I believe, by not going to the Lioness game in Australia,” she said in reference to his expected attendance as President of the FA. “But frankly, if Harry had been there, Harry would have gone. There aren’t enough members of the royal family now to be everywhere at once. And he’s trying to be a dad, as well.”

Brown continued, “They need Harry in the repertoire. He was a great addition to the lineup—people loved him, he was fun, he brought a different tone, he could travel the world. It was a whole other set of skills that Harry brought to the mix that I think they really miss now. It adds to the pain of it all for William.”

prince harry william relationship tina brown
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Sounds like Prince William could use a hug.

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