Prince Harry and Prince William's Former Royal Aide Comments on Their Rift
Jason Knauf, a former communications secretary for Princes William and Harry, has addressed their ongoing rift. His comments were made in an interview with 60 Minutes Australia on February 23. Knauf noted that the situation has been challenging for everyone who knows both brothers. He emphasizes, "It's very difficult to have this stuff play out in the public eye," recommending respect for William's choice to maintain privacy, PEOPLE reported.
Knauf revealed, "It's been hard and sad, especially for all of us who know both of them." His insight stems from a close working relationship with both princes and their significant others.
Knauf served previously for both Princes and their wives before becoming the chief executive of William and Kate's Royal Foundation, stepping down in late 2021. He remains involved with Prince William's Earthshot Prize as a trustee.
The tension reportedly began in 2016 when William expressed concerns over Harry's rapid relationship with Meghan Markle. The public became aware of this schism in 2020 when Harry and Meghan decided to step back from royal duties.
Since that time, the brothers' interactions have been infrequent. They last appeared together publicly with their wives to greet mourners outside Windsor Castle following Queen Elizabeth's death in September 2022. They also attended a memorial for their uncle Lord Robert Fellowes in August 2023 but avoided each other during the event.
Reports indicate that Prince Harry has had little communication with his father, King Charles, and attempts to reach William have been ignored. A royal insider described the rift as serious, yet noted that it could potentially be resolved.
In the recent interview, Knauf also recounted how William reacted to learning about both King Charles's and Princess Kate's health diagnoses within a short period. He said, "If you're Prince William, you find out that both your wife and your father have cancer." This development took a significant emotional toll on him.
He added that much speculation circulated online concerning Kate's health before they could publicly disclose the cancer diagnosis. This prolonged silence was to manage how they'd inform their children about the situation.
King Charles's cancer diagnosis was shared in February 2024, followed by Princess Kate's announcement of her treatment in March. She later revealed in September that she completed chemotherapy and reported being in remission by January 2025.
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