Prince William and Prince Harry's rift is the most profound conflict between an 'heir and spare' for a generation - and the seeds of damage were sown as their parents' marriage unravelled, explosive new book claims

• New book is Battle of Brothers: William and Harry - the Friendship and the Feuds
• Author Robert Lacey was 'astonished' and moved to tears by the family conflict
• Set to be released in October, book also explores 'heir and the spare' dynamic

The 'once unbreakable' bond between Prince William and Prince Harry has suffered a 'devastating breakdown' in the past 18 months - making it the most profound conflict between an heir and spare for a generation, an explosive new book claims.

Biographer Robert Lacey, a historical consultant for Netflix's The Crown as well as the author of Majesty, a 1977 study of Queen Elizabeth, has penned Battle of Brothers: William and Harry - the Friendship and the Feuds, set to be released in October.

He told how he was 'astonished' and 'sometimes moved to tears' by the fresh details of the rift that emerged while he was researching the conflict. 

The book explores conflicts that emerge as a result of the heir and the spare dynamic that permeates British aristocracy, and claims that the 'seeds of damage were sown' when William and Harry's parents' marriage unravelled.

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The 'once unbreakable' bond between Prince William and Prince Harry has suffered a 'devastating breakdown' in the past 18 months, an explosive new book claims. Pictured: Prince William, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle at the Commonwealth Day service in London in March

It will also delve into how the relationship between the two brothers has been impacted by their wives - Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, both 38 - and claims to offer more detail on why the Sussexes chose to quit as senior members of the Royal Family and move to Los Angeles with their son Archie, one.

In a press release, Lacey said: 'These two brothers - once inseparable and now separated by much more than mere distance - have been acting out the contradictions that go back into their childhoods and even before that: into their parents' ill-fated marriage.

We have seen conflicts between heir and spare in every recent generation of the royal family — but nothing so profound as this.'

He added that writing the book was both 'painful and enthralling', admitting: 'I have been astonished and sometimes moved to tears by the fresh details and insights I have discovered in researching this story of family conflict. 

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The book also explores conflicts that emerge as a result of the 'heir and the spare' dynamic that permeates British aristocracy, and claims that the 'seeds of damage were sown' when William and Harry's parents' marriage unravelled. Pictured: Harry and William as children with their mother Diana at Thorpe Park

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Lacey said writing the book was both 'painful and enthralling', admitting: 'I have been astonished and sometimes moved to tears by the fresh details and insights I have discovered in researching this story of family conflict.' Pictured: Prince William And Prince Harry at his military helicopter training course in Shrewsbury

'It has been both enthralling and painful to trace this drama through the memories of close witnesses and some of the people most intimately involved.'

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The book's synposis tells how Lacey investigates the 'untold reality' of the brothers' relationship

The book's synposis tells how Lacey investigates the 'untold reality' of the brothers' relationship. 

'Much reported on but little understood, Diana's boys have lived under constant scrutiny since birth,' it reads.

'Raised to be the closest of brothers, the last 18 months has seen a devastating breakdown of their once unbreakable bond.

'With an unrivalled knowledge of court life and access to impeccable sources, Robert Lacey investigates the untold reality of the brothers' relationship, explaining what happened when two sons were raised for vastly different futures and showing how the seeds of damage were sown as their parents' marriage unravelled.'

It is believed the trigger that caused the rift to develop between William and Harry was when the Duke of Cambridge, 38, advised his younger sibling to 'take things slow' when he first began dating Meghan Markle in 2017. 

Prince Harry refuses to deny rift between himself and William

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The Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George pose on December 18 in a photograph to mark the start of the new decade in the Throne Room of Buckingham Palace

Relations became so sour that they reportedly didn't talk for weeks after Harry's wedding, where William was best man. Then Megxit, and the way it was handled, left William and Charles devastated.  

In a documentary last year - Harry & Meghan: An African Journey - the Duke of Sussex, 35, admitted he and William are 'certainly on different paths at the moment'.

He told ITV's Tom Bradby: 'Inevitably stuff happens. But we're brothers, we'll always be brothers.'

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Relations became so sour that they reportedly didn't talk for weeks after Harry's wedding, where William was best man (pictured arriving at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in May 2018)

Royal aides fear Meghan and Harry's new book will blame William for brothers' rift

Kensington Palace have said they would not comment on the book — which is being re-drafted and is set to be released in August.

Meghan and Harry's upcoming book 'Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the making of a modern Royal Family', which the couple are believed to have cooperated with, is soon to be released.

It charts their journey in the Royal Family to the point where they stepped down from senior duties this year. 

Royal aides are now said to be increasingly worried about the publication and the potential repercussions for the future monarch Prince William, reports The Sun.

The book is not an official biography though it is believed the couple have worked with the authors - journalists Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand.

Over 100 people from around the Royal Family are understood to have given information for the production of the book, which is believed to be set to show Harry and Meghan in a positive light.

With large topics set to centre around the withdrawal of Harry and Meghan from senior roles, royal anxiety now surrounds the likely inclusion of the Queen's 'Megxit' showdown talks at Sandringham, in which the Royal Family came together to discuss the transition.

It is felt that Prince William's role in said talks may not be looked back upon favourably, with England's future king reported to be the last to arrive and made a swift exit in the aftermath.

The talks resulted in Harry and Meghan being request to drop their HRH titles, before they then moved to Canada, and Los Angeles thereafter. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex then outlined their plans to become financially independent and earn their own income.

Royal sources have said such a possible negative portrayal as William as a 'bad guy' against the philanthropic Harry and Meghan would not be fair.

A source told the Sun: 'They are worried William especially will be portrayed in a bad light. This sort of family spat shouldn’t be out there in public.

'This shouldn't happen to future monarchs. The book could be the most damaging thing to the Royal Family since Prince Diana's interview on Panorama with Martin Bashir.'The American edition's jacket cover of the book features a photograph taken earlier this year when the 'Fab Four' reunited at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, where royal watchers branded their interaction 'frosty'. 

A source previously told People that the brothers' relationship is 'forever changed' and they 'won't get back to the way they were'.

'Harry is looking straight ahead at his future with his family,' they added.  

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The American edition's jacket cover of the book features a photograph taken earlier this year when the 'Fab Four' reunited at the Commonwealth Day service 

During lockdown, a source told Fabulous Digital that the brothers have been chatting via Zoom.

'William finds Zoom a good, informal way of keeping in touch, and some would say "tabs", on his younger brother,' they said, adding that the calls remain private between the two brothers, with a friend close to the pair claiming William is 'very anxious' to keep the calls 'low key and casual'. 

The Mail on Sunday previously revealed that former Welsh Guards officer Mark Dyer has a new role acting as a pivotal go-between in the sensitive business of building bridges between once-close Harry and William, particularly since the younger sibling turned his back on Royal life.

A friend said: 'Long transatlantic chats between Mark and Harry have started to reap healing dividends between the brothers. His advice to the Prince was "talk and listen".'

Meanwhile Meghan and Harry's upcoming book 'Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the making of a modern Royal Family', which the couple are believed to have cooperated with, is soon to be released and charts their journey among the Royal Family, to the point where they stepped down from senior duties this year.

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Meanwhile Meghan and Harry's upcoming book 'Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the making of a modern Royal Family', which the couple are believed to have cooperated with, is soon to be released and charts their journey among the Royal Family, to the point where they stepped down from senior duties this year

Prince William and Prince Harry: a 'royal rift'

November 2018

Royal reporter Katie Nicholl claimed sources close to the brothers claimed they had a falling out around Christmas 2017, when Harry reportedly told William he wasn't making enough of an effort to include Meghan in The Firm.

'Harry felt William wasn’t rolling out the red carpet for Meghan and told him so,' her source claimed. 'They had a bit of a fall-out, which was only resolved when Charles stepped in and asked William to make an effort.

'That’s when the Cambridges invited the Sussexes to spend Christmas with them.'

February 2019

In a TLC documentary - Kate v. Meghan: Princesses at War, Katie Nicholl said Harry had taken offence to a comment William made about his relationship with Meghan.

'William was quite concerned that the relationship had moved so quickly,' she said. 'And being close to Harry, probably the only person close enough to say to Harry, "This seems to be moving quickly, are you sure?"

'I think what was meant as well-intended brotherly advice just riled Harry. Harry is hugely protective of Meghan. He saw that as criticism. He interpreted that as his brother not really being behind this marriage, this union, and I don’t think things have been quite right ever since.'

In the same documentary, royal correspondent Emily Andrews claimed Harry 'went ballistic' and accused William of 'trying to wreck this relationship before it’s even started'.

March 2019

Royal filmmaker Nick Bullen told Fox News that there was never a feud between Kate and Meghan - instead, 'William and Harry have had a rift'.

'All brothers fall out. All families fall out. Their fall-out at the moment is becoming public,' he said.

April 2019

Prince Harry attended an Easter service at St George's Chapel - which happened to fall on the Queen's birthday. He arrived alone alongside Peter Philips and his then wife Autumn.

While he was seen chatting to his cousin Zara Tindall and Kate, he didn't appear to speak to William.

May 2019

Following the Easter service, Kate allegedly advised Harry to offer William 'an olive branch' to repair their fractured relationship and the 'complete and utter breakdown of communication' between them, The Mirror reported.

It was her suggestion that led the Sussexes to invite the Cambridges to Frogmore Cottage, where they had tea and chatted for half an hour.

June 2019

Meghan and Harry officially split from The Royal Foundation - the joint charity they shared with William and Kate.

An official statement read: 'The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex has today announced the conclusions of a review into its structure, and how it will best support Their Royal Highnesses with future charitable activity.

'Later this year, The Royal Foundation will become the principal charitable and philanthropic vehicle for The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will establish their own new charitable foundation with transitional operating support from The Royal Foundation. In addition, both couples will continue to work together on projects in the future, including on The Foundation's mental health program, Heads Together.'

July 2019

Prince William and Kate attended Archie's Christening and posed for a group photo. However, a source told Us Weekly that the Cambridges 'weren't happy' about the Sussexes' decision to keep the celebration private.

They reportedly said: 'William thinks his brother is going overboard keeping Archie out of the spotlight' and 'blames Meghan'.

October 2019

In an ITV documentary, Prince Harry refused to deny there was a rift between him and his brother.

Speaking to Tom Bradby in Harry & Meghan: An African Journey, Harry said: 'Part of this role and part of this job, and this family, being under the pressure that it’s under, inevitably, you know, stuff happens.

'But look, we’re brothers, we’ll always be brothers. And we’re certainly on different paths at the moment, but I’ll always be there for him, as I know he’ll always be there for me.'

He added: 'We don’t see each other as much as we used to because we’re so busy, but you know, I love him dearly. The majority of this stuff [in the press] is created out of nothing, but you know, as brothers, you know, you have good days, you have bad days.'

November 2019

The Sussexes announced they would be spending Christmas with Meghan's mother Doria Ragland, rather than at Sandringham with the Queen. While the decision was said to have the monarch's support, one source told Us Weekly that the 'rift' between William and Harry was 'one of the main reasons behind their decision'.

Meanwhile a source told People: 'William is the future king. There is going to be some competitiveness between him and Harry... That already puts a rock in the relationship.'

January 2020

Tom Bradby told Good Morning Britain that the brothers are hoping to rebuild their relationship. He said: 'There are lots of people who would love there to be, including, I think, the brothers themselves, love them to be closer again. And with any luck, that will happen. But with families, we all know stuff happens, things are said.'

But later that month, Harry and Meghan announced they were quitting as senior members of the Royal Family, which 'blindsided' William, according to an Us Weekly source.

However, a royal source told The Sun that, following the official Sandringham summit, William and Harry 'spent time together privately' to 'work on their relationship and discuss their future'.

'It has been groundbreaking in terms of saving their bond as brothers and has been totally driven by them,' the source added.

'But Kate and Meghan, who was in Canada, did join in with some of the talks on more than one occasion - which is another sign of a real thaw in their relationship. Things are better.'

March 2020

The Commonwealth Day service - Meghan and Harry's final official engagement - was 'not exactly the warm reunion we were hoping for', according to body language expert Judi James.

She said Harry's 'tension was palpable' as William seemingly failed to greet his brother.

Towards the end of the month, when the coronavirus pandemic took hold, Dailymail.com reported that Meghan had confided in friends that her husband felt 'helpless' and was 'concerned' about the Queen and his father Prince Charles catching coronavirus.

The friend added: 'Meghan told her inner circle of friends that Harry has been communicating with Prince William and the Queen on a pretty consistent basis.

'She said this world crisis has actually brought them all closer together, especially Harry and his brother.

'Harry has made it very clear to them that he will do whatever he can to help from Canada. Meghan said they are grateful, especially Harry, that they could spend time with his family before all this insanity began.'