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Stories about tension between Prince William and his younger brother, Harry, have been making headlines for a few years now. The once-close brothers haven't had the same relationship since William reportedly told Harry to "slow down" when he started dating Meghan Markle in 2016.
After their mother died in 1997, William and Harry became even closer over their shared grief. Adding to that closeness, according to People Magazine, was a relationship with the Queen's longtime private secretary, Sir Christopher Geidt, who was known to smooth over any issues between the boys (and the rest of the royal family, for that matter).
Geidt "really had the boys' backs," a friend of his told the magazine in this week's issue. He was also someone they could talk to other than their father, Prince Charles. Geidt left his job back in October 2017 after serving Her Majesty since 2002.
Geidt was very good at keeping the peace between royal offices of the Queen, Charles and the boys (prior to March 2019, William and Harry shared an office). In his absence, things aren't managed as well.
“There is a lot of hurt and a lot of unresolved issues between the boys,” Geidt's friend added, “and no one to help mediate. Petty grievances can become huge conflicts between all the different royal offices if they aren’t managed correctly, and that’s exactly what’s happening now.”
Harry and Meghan's recent TV special with journalist Tom Bradby only fed the rumor mill.
Last week Buckingham Palace confirmed that Harry and Meghan will spend Christmas with Doria Ragland in California. This isn't a snub against anyone -- in fact, the Queen gave the couple the OK to make their own plans while the rest of the family gathers at Sandringham. William and Kate have spent two Christmases with her family, so it's only fair that Meghan gets to bring Archie and Harry to her native California for the holidays.
Sibling relationships are frustrating and far from perfect. And while there will inevitably be periods of distance, you always come back to each other. At the end of the day, you're family. William and Harry are brothers who are also bonded through a major loss. This particular chapter in their lives may have them at odds, but it's unwise to read it as anything more than that.