Last March, the 42-year-old Princess of Wales shocked the world by announcing that she had been diagnosed with cancer, sharing the devastating news via an emotional video.
Shortly after, Prince Harry, 39, and Meghan Markle, 43, issued a statement that, though brief, sparked a strong reaction from Prince William, British media reported.
Prince William’s anger at Meghan and Harry
In a short message barely longer than 20 words, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made it clear that they support Princess Kate.
“We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace,” the Duke and Duchess of Sussex wrote in their message published in ‘The Independent’.
Although the words seemed harmless, they provoked a deep irritation in the future king of the United Kingdom.
It was not the apparent desire for privacy that irritated William, but a small but significant detail, sources close to the family explained.
A confidant of William’s revealed to the ‘Daily Beast’ that what really infuriated the prince was his brother and sister-in-law’s decision to refer to his wife as “Kate.”
“William takes offence at people calling Catherine ‘Kate,’ because she has asked to be known as Catherine. It’s a fairly simple wish to respect. I’m sure Meghan wouldn’t like it if William started publicly calling her ‘Meghan Markle,'” the source explained, highlighting the importance of respecting personal preferences within the royal circle.
The insider also stressed that, while some may see this detail as trivial, those close to William know that it is the kind of thing that really bothers him.
“If Harry and Meghan were serious about healing their issue, a good first step would be to call her Catherine,” added another person close to the prince.
Although this incident may seem minor, it is only a reflection of the deep tension between the siblings.
A few days ago, the German press revealed that the Prince of Wales may be considering excluding his brother from his future coronation, a further sign of the distance that separates them.