Loved ones of Prince William and Prince Harry have had a tough time managing the brothers’ ongoing rift, according to a former royal aide.
Jason Knauf — the longtime communications secretary for William and Harry and their respective wives, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle — addressed the impact of the family feud in an interview with “60 Minutes Australia” that aired Sunday.
“It’s very difficult to have this stuff play out in the public eye, but [William] has chosen to keep his thoughts on it private, and I think all of us who know him really have to respect that we should do the same,” Knauf said.
He continued, “But I will say, of course, it’s been hard and sad, especially for all of us who know both of them.”
Knauf also addressed his experience working with Harry and Markle prior to their resignation from their royal duties in 2020.
“I worked really closely with the two of them, and we had lots of great times,” he said, adding that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s 2018 wedding was an “amazing, magical experience.”
Knauf, who infamously accused Markle of bullying palace staffers, worked closely with the royal brothers and their spouses before transitioning to his role as chief executive of the Prince and Princess of Wales’ Royal Foundation. In 2021, he continued his involvement with the royals as a member of the board of trustees for William’s Earthshot Prize.
William and Harry’s bad blood dates back to 2016 when the redheaded royal started dating the “Suits” alum.
The drama between the siblings intensified after Harry and Markle quit the royal family and moved to California, where they have since pursued a Hollywood empire.
The duke infamously aired his dirty laundry with his family in several interviews as well as his 2023 tell-all book, “Spare.”
In his memoir, he detailed disagreements with William and even claimed the first in line to the British throne had once physically attacked him during a heated argument about Markle.
Harry, 40, and the former actress, 43, also spilled the tea in a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey in which he addressed tensions with William, 42, and their father, King Charles III.
Markle notably claimed during the sit-down that Harry’s relatives had voiced concerns over their son’s skin color and also revealed she had struggled with suicidal thoughts.
The As Ever founder further claimed during the interview that it was Middleton, 43, who made her cry days before her wedding to Harry — and not the other way around as previously reported.
Harry and Markle have since kept their distance from William and Middleton, only reuniting at the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022. Harry also crossed paths with William at Charles’ coronation ceremony in 2023 while Markle stayed home with their two kids: Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3.
Page Six reported in 2023 that the Sussexes want to make amends with Charles, 76 — though they have yet to smooth things over.
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