Prince William and Kate Middleton have been showing a united front. The royal couple is stronger than ever, supporting eachother on official appearances, from a red carpet reunion with Tom Cruise to a rumored trip to India, the setting of this year's Earthshot Prize.
© Getty ImagesAll of these outings have coincided with the much-discussed return of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to the UK. The shift in behavior has prompted many to wonder if the public appearances are a reaction to the drama surrounding their family.
“It’s no coincidence that William and Catherine are doing more together. They want their roles to be very clearly separate from what Harry and Meghan are doing, and the brief from them is to stay focused on their work and causes and not be distracted by anything else,” said an insider to Vanity Fair.
© Getty Images“They are making their presence felt and at a time when it matters.”
Still, despite their decision to take on more engagements together, William and Kate are not competing for attention. “They don’t see life as a competition with the Sussexes,” added royal biographer Russell Myers.
“The Sussexes are here doing their thing. William and Catherine are doing what’s in front of them and focusing on what they care about.”
William and Harry's fractured relationship
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesWilliam and Harry's relationship has gone through a public fracturing ever since Harry and Meghan decided to leave the UK and their roles as working royals. In the years since, Harry and Meghan have spoken to the media about the challenges they faced within the institution, including some criticism towards William and Kate.
A source told Vanity Fair that Meghan and Harry's decision to return to the UK had "derailed" William and Kate's own plans.
“William is still pretty furious about the whole thing and has had no contact with his brother,” said the source. “He won’t have Harry’s name mentioned in his presence, and while this derailed him and Catherine momentarily, they are back on track and focused on the work they want to do. You will be seeing a lot more of them together.”
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