Until recent reports emerged of a royal feud, the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry’s relationship was one of close and affectionate friendship. In numerous appearances at charitable and royal events over the years the pair made evident their ease in each other’s company.
At the 2012 Olympics, Kate and Harry could barely contain their laughter while William, sitting in between them, stared ahead stonily. At the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation in 2013, Kate appeared to make funny faces at Harry; two years later at Trooping the Colour, they were once again caught mid giggle as they shared a joke.
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When Harry praised Kate for being the big sister he never had, he appeared to mean it.
They met when Kate first began her relationship with William in 2003, while both were students at St Andrew’s University and Harry was about to leave school.
From the beginning, Kate developed a strong friendship with Harry. According to a Daily Mail report, a source at St Andrews revealed that, “From the earliest days, Kate always maintained an open- door policy to Prince Harry”.
Harry would frequently stay at the four-bedroom cottage Kate and William rented just outside the Scottish town, and the trio would often visit Balmoral together. When William and Kate graduated and moved to a roomy rented farmhouse in Anglesey, Harry was a frequent visitor when he had time away from his army duties. They would often visit local pubs, go on long walks and Kate would give Harry cooking tips.
It was during this time, as another Daily Mail source explains, a “strong, sisterly bond was cemented with the at-times lonely Harry”.
In 2010, when William and Kate announced their engagement, Harry’s response was heartfelt and touching.
“I am delighted my brother has popped the question! It means I get a sister, which I have always wanted,” he said.
After their wedding the following year, he was just as effusive. “To have a big sister is very, very nice,” Harry said, adding, “I’ve got to know Catherine pretty well, but now that she’s becoming part of the family, I’m really looking forward to getting her under my wing – or she’ll be taking me under her wing probably”.
In 2012, when Kate joined Wills and Harry in their renamed Royal Foundation, it appeared their future working relationship was cemented. As well as setting up charities, Harry frequently visited Kate and William’s Kensington Palace apartment.
One Christmas – and in keeping with the royal tradition of giving each other purely humorous gifts – Kate gave the single Harry a ‘grow-your-own- girlfriend’ gift.
When the Cambridges started a family, Harry – by then living in a two-bedroom cottage also in Kensington Palace – remained a frequent visitor and retained his close friendship with Kate.
“Harry appeals to her sillier side because he is carefree, footloose and loves banter. He finds things funny about people and says so,” a Daily Mail source revealed at the time.
But even so, there were hints that if a fourth member were to join the close-knit trio, things wouldn’t remain the same.
“When it comes to Harry’s girlfriends, Kate is subtle, while simultaneously holding strong opinions,” said the insider in June 2016, just weeks before Harry’s first date with Meghan Markle, adding, “Turning their threesome into a foursome will be a daunting prospect, whoever it is. The status quo does rather suit Kate because she can be leader of the pack.”
While Harry and Kate’s relationship appeared solid in the early months of his relationship with Meghan, in the past year there have been reports of tension and feuding.
Still, there was no sign of that in April when Harry and Kate were together at an Anzac Day service in Westminster Abbey. Despite the solemn occasion they were seen chatting, smiling and, just like the old days, laughing together.
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