Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Style at Large
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career & Money
    • Health & Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food & Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex & Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    The ultimate daily digest for women of power, purpose, and style.


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes & Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes & Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Winter Shoe Trends
    • Slick-Backed Buns
    • Kathy Hochul and Adrienne Adams
    • Holiday Candles
    • Statement Red Socks
    1. Celebrity
    2. Royals

    Prince William Has Been “A Constant Source of Strength” as Princess Kate Continues to Undergo Treatment for Cancer, While Kate “Gives Him the Security, Love, and Friendship He Needs”

    “They are each other’s confidants, providing emotional support.”

    Rachel Burchfield's avatar
    By Rachel Burchfield
    Published 5 July 2024 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Prince William and Kate Middleton
    (Image credit: Getty Images)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Growing up, it was always assumed that Prince William and Prince Harry would always be the closest of confidantes. After all, they’re brothers, and no one could really fully understand life in the royal fishbowl quite like William could understand Harry and Harry could understand William. But time and distance—both emotional and geographical—has separated the brothers, who have been at odds with one another for years. In Harry’s place for the Prince of Wales is his wife, the Princess of Wales, who royal biographer Ingrid Seward said gives her husband “the security, love, and friendship he needs” after William cut ties with his younger brother, per OK. 

    “William is sensitive—he likes structure and has perseverance,” said Seward who, in addition to writing a number of royal biographies, is also editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine. “He does not give up easily.” 

    Prince William Prince Harry

    Seward said William was upset by his younger brother, Harry, "more than he would care to admit."

    (Image credit: Yui Mok / WPA Pool for Getty Images)

    But, when it comes to his brother, she said that “His relationship with [his] brother Harry upset him more than he would care to admit,” Seward said. “But he found it easier to cut ties rather than allow himself to be continually annoyed.”

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    She added that “His life with Kate gives him the security, love, and friendship he needs.”

    Royal correspondent Charles Rae said that William is more focused on Kate and his father King Charles’ respective cancer battles rather than reconciling with Harry: “There’s too much water which has gone under that bridge,” he said of a possible reconciliation. “After everything Harry and Meghan have done with the Oprah Winfrey interview, that Netflix show, Spare…There’s too much gone under the bridge now. If they’re going to make the move, I am not so sure William and Catherine would respond favorably.”

    You may like
    • Prince William putting his hand on Princess Kate's back Prince William and Princess Kate Lean on One "Solid" Family Member
    • Prince William and Princess Kate kissing at a polo match Royal Author Reveals the “Secret” to Prince William and Princess Kate’s Successful Marriage and How Kate Plans to Support Her Husband This Fall
    • Prince William, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry Prince William and Princess Kate Are Taking A “Wait-and-See Approach” To Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s UK Move

    Rae added that “William’s got a lot more on his mind right now than repairing the troubles with his own brother. He’s got his wife to look after and his three children.”

    Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis

    William is reportedly more interested in focusing on his wife and kids than repairing his relationship with his brother right now.

    (Image credit: Getty/The Prince and Princess of Wales/Matt Porteous)

    Of Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, “When they’re together as a family, William and Kate are in their element,” a source speaking to Us Weekly said. “The kids bring them even closer.”

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    The ultimate daily digest for women of power, purpose, and style.

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    During Kate’s continued cancer treatment, “William’s been very hands-on lately, taking the lead in family activities and routines,” they said, noting that William enjoys reading the kids bedtime stories and playing sports with them. “Kate loves seeing him in this role, and it’s strengthened their bond.”

    Though they’ve been a couple for over half of their lives after meeting as college students at the University of St. Andrews back in the early aughts, Kate’s health scare has only brought them closer together. Us Weekly reports that “They’re also carving out quality time as a couple,” and that the Prince and Princess of Wales “prioritize date nights, even if it’s just a quiet evening at home.” 

    Prince William and Kate Middleton kissing at polo

    Kate's health scare this year has brought the longtime couple even closer, and perhaps closer than ever.

    (Image credit: Getty)

    According to the publication’s source, “They are each other’s confidants, providing emotional support,” they said, adding that the couple’s love has only deepened in recent months. “William’s been a constant source of strength.”

    Explore More
    Prince William
    Rachel Burchfield
    Rachel Burchfield
    Social Links Navigation
    Senior Celebrity and Royals Editor

    Rachel Burchfield is a writer, editor, and podcaster whose primary interests are fashion and beauty, society and culture, and, most especially, the British Royal Family and other royal families around the world. She serves as Marie Claire’s Senior Celebrity and Royals Editor and has also contributed to publications like Allure, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, People, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and W, among others. Before taking on her current role with Marie Claire, Rachel served as its Weekend Editor and later Royals Editor. She is the cohost of Podcast Royal, a show that was named a top five royal podcast by The New York Times. A voracious reader and lover of books, Rachel also hosts I’d Rather Be Reading, which spotlights the best current nonfiction books hitting the market and interviews the authors of them. Rachel frequently appears as a media commentator, and she or her work has appeared on outlets like NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN, and more. 

    Read more
    Prince William putting his hand on Princess Kate's back
    Royals Prince William and Princess Kate Lean on One "Solid" Family Member
    By Kristin Contino
    Princess Kate wearing a gray coat
    Royals Princess Kate Has Avoided One of the Great “Tragedies of Diana's Story”
    By Kristin Contino
     
     
    Prince William and Princess Kate stand behind King Charles while all three look serious and wear black
    Royals How Kate and William Are Ditching "Institutional Secrecy"
    By Amy Mackelden
    King Charles and Queen Camilla wearing tweed jackets and kilts sitting next to each other
    Royals King Charles Treats Queen Camilla Differently Than Diana in One Major Way
    By Kristin Contino
     
     
    Latest in Royals
    Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling waving and smiling in her wedding dress riding in a car
    Royals Harriet Sperling Shares Royal Wedding Details for the First Time
    Queen Camilla laughing in a white dress
    Royals Queen Camilla Couldn't Stop Laughing During "Royal Rain Gate"
     
     
    Harriet Sperling wearing a white hat and dress
    Royals Harriet Sperling Says She Can Go to One "Open-Hearted" Royal for Advice
    Princess Diana wears a blue floral dress and has short blonde hair and is smirking
    Royals Princess Diana Made a Risqué Quip to Royal Photographer
     
     
    Latest in News
    Inde Navarrette was spotted after hosting Saturday Night Live in Adidas's take on the windbreaker trend and track shorts
    Celebrity Style Inde Navarrette Elevates an Adidas Track Suit with Heels and a Dior Bag
    Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling waving and smiling in her wedding dress riding in a car
    Royals Harriet Sperling Shares Royal Wedding Details for the First Time
     
     
    Amal Clooney wore a white dress and a suede brown coat with thigh-high black boots for winter 2026
    Celebrity Style Be Gone, Ankle Boots—Amal Clooney's Thigh-Highs Reject the Short Shoe Comeback
    Queen Camilla laughing in a white dress
    Royals Queen Camilla Couldn't Stop Laughing During "Royal Rain Gate"
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.