I’m not trapped, insists William: Prince was left ‘reeling’ by his brother’s claim to Oprah and their relationship is ‘still raw’ after tell-all interview
- Friends of the duke spoke out following Harry’s remarks on US TV this month
- Sources claim William felt the comments made were ‘way off the mark’
- However it was suggested the situation between the siblings ‘is still raw’
The Duke of Cambridge does not feel ‘trapped’ by his role in the Royal Family, friends insisted last night.
They spoke out following Prince Harry‘s remarks on US television about his elder brother’s position and how he is unable to ‘leave that system, but I have’.
A source close to William said he was left ‘reeling’ by the ‘way off the mark’ comments, adding that his ‘head is all over the place on it’.
The Duke of Cambridge does not feel ‘trapped’ by his role in the Royal Family, friends insisted last night
Friends also told The Sunday Times that the situation between the siblings is ‘still raw’, adding: ‘Once he got over the anger of how things happened, he was left with the absence of his brother.
‘They shared everything about their lives – an office, a foundation, meetings together most days and there was a lot of fun along the way. He’ll miss it for ever.’
Meanwhile, a close friend of the brothers said William ‘definitely feels the pressure now that it’s all on him – his future looks different because of his brother’s choices. It’s not easy’.
Another said that the key to the future king’s happiness is his marriage to Kate, explaining: ‘They’ve got a solid relationship and she gives him confidence. There’s no jealousy, no friction. They are happy for each other’s successes.’
William’s move to spend the early years of his marriage away from official duties proved to be a vital foundation for his role as a senior member of the Royal Family, a close aide added.
‘For years, the battles around privacy and paparazzi intrusion were all-consuming. He wanted to know, could we build them a credible plan allowing them a family life while slowly increasing the profile of official life?
They spoke out following Prince Harry’s remarks on US television about his elder brother’s position and how he is unable to ‘leave that system, but I have’
‘It took years to get there, but the success of that plan allowed him to be confident in his role. He’s not worried about his kids’ privacy any more and he has been able to be the kind of dad he wants to be.’
Meanwhile, William has heard how Syrian aid workers are struggling to cope as the coronavirus pandemic compounds the problems of conflict and hunger.
Workers supported by Britain’s Disasters Emergency Committee, whose chief executive Saleh Saeed warned earlier this month that the world’s poorest countries are on the brink of a ‘triple-hit catastrophe’, spoke to him on a video call last week.