Royal Insider Says Prince William Is “Envious” of Prince Harry’s Freedom

As the world gears up for the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games and Prince Harry‘s return to the U.K. next week, sources close to the royal family say that the annual event is a source of tension between him and his older brother, Prince William. It’s not just the success of the games, sources say, but the fact that Harry has the option to pursue his passions and explore different avenues that don’t involve the monarchy.

“William is a bit envious of [his brother’s] freedoms,” an insider told Us Weekly. Ed Owens, royal historian and author of After Elizabeth: Can the Monarchy Save Itself, echoed the sentiment, saying that Harry’s successes with Netflix, the Invictus Games, and his life in California, away from the watchful eye of the British public, may seem alluring to William.

“Harry has done remarkable things,” Owen shared, adding that Harry “now has international presences, and I think that international stage is something both brothers are clearly vying for. That international limelight really sets Harry’s work apart from other members of the royal family.”

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Back in February, British journalist Robert Jobson told the outlet that the success of the games made William jealous of his only sibling and that he was surprised at how well they were received by people around the world—not only by royal fans but by entire nations.

“I think there was a degree of jealousy about how well it had gone,” Jobson during the ABC News special Prince Harry’s Mission: Life, Family, and Invictus Games. “I do think that William was surprised how much this had been such a success, and how much money was being thrown into it and how many governments were getting involved.”

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Of course, news of tension between the brothers made headlines with the release of Harry’s memoir, Spare. In 2023, when he was speaking about the book, Harry called William his “archnemsis.”

“There has always been this competition between us, weirdly,” Harry said during an appearance on Good Morning America in January 2023. “I think it really plays into or always played by the ‘heir/spare.’”

Sources close to the Sussexes say that the jealousy is one-sided and that Harry is feeling great about his upcoming visit and all the causes that he’s championing. It’s still unclear whether or not Harry will have time to see any of his family members when he’s across the pond, as King Charles currently has a booked schedule, and Kate Middleton is undergoing treatment for cancer. 

“Harry is very content [and] doesn’t have any of those [old] feelings now,” a source shared. “He feels that his life has purpose and meaning and that he can bring a lot of good to the world.”