Prince William’s relationship with his younger brother, Prince Harry, has reportedly reached a new low, with tensions escalating since Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped down from their royal duties and relocated to the U.S. The latest point of contention? The Sussexes’ continued use of the name “Kate” to refer to the Princess of Wales, despite her preference to be called “Catherine.”

According to a report by The Daily Beast, a source close to the Prince of Wales revealed that William was left “fuming” after Harry and Meghan sent a get-well-soon message to the princess following her cancer diagnosis, addressing her as “Kate” rather than her chosen name, Catherine. The princess had publicly stated her preference to go by her full name, yet the Sussexes’ message read, “We wish health and healing for Kate and the family and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace.”

The insider disclosed that William found the move deeply disrespectful, especially given the context. “The fact that Harry and Meghan were unable to bring themselves to use her chosen name, even when they were sending her get-well-soon messages after her cancer diagnosis, was noted,” the source said. “William takes offense at people calling Catherine ‘Kate’ because she has asked to be known as Catherine. It’s a fairly simple wish to respect.”

The issue, while seemingly trivial, reportedly “pushes William’s buttons” and has further strained the already tense relationship between the brothers. The source added, “Pushing his buttons while he was going through his wife’s cancer seemed an entirely unnecessary and deliberate irritation.”

The tension over the use of Catherine’s name isn’t the only issue driving a wedge between the brothers. According to The Sunday Times, William has already started planning for his future coronation and has indicated that he doesn’t want Harry to attend. “They are estranged, which is dreadfully sad,” a close source told the outlet, noting that the brothers haven’t spoken in nearly two years.

Royal expert Christopher Andersen, author of The King, expressed his hope that William would not exclude his brother from such a significant event. “Despite all the bad blood between the brothers, I’m convinced that, when the time does come, William will not be foolish enough to exclude his only sibling, now fifth in line to the throne, from his coronation,” Andersen said.

However, Andersen also acknowledged the deep divide that currently exists within the royal family. “Things probably have never been worse between the brothers than they are now,” he noted. “William and Charles have pretty much made the joint decision to effectively cut Harry out of their lives, at least for the time being. There is no sign of a reconciliation on the horizon, and everyone involved seems to have pretty much come to terms with that.”

The ongoing health crises affecting both William’s wife and father have reportedly made it easier for him to distance himself from Harry. “It’s just been so much easier for William, facing the pressure of having to cope with his wife’s, as well as his father’s cancer diagnoses, to slam the door on Harry,” Andersen explained.

With no resolution in sight, the rift between the once-close brothers seems likely to continue, with William focused on his future as king and Harry and Meghan pursuing their lives in California. The question remains whether time will heal these wounds or whether the rift will become a permanent fixture in the royal family’s history.

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Source: The Wall Street Journal