Prince Harry Praised For Treating Meghan ‘Better’ Than Prince William’s Distant Behavior Toward Kate

On Sept. 8, 2022, the British monarchy completely changed as Queen Elizabeth II passed away, making her son, Charles, the new king. In addition to the official procession and funeral service, the queen’s sudden death also triggered a series of nationwide public tributes, some of which were attended by members of the royal family.

Prior to the queen’s passing, the princes William and Harry had rarely been seen together since the younger brother distanced himself from the crown and moved to America with his wife and their young children.

A now infamous interview with Oprah Winfrey, in which the couple spoke freely about their treatment by the royal family as well as the press and the public, seemed to further push a divide between the brothers.

However, a death in the family has brought them back together. Both Harry and William raced to their grandmother’s bedside earlier this month when it seemed her health was taking a turn for the worse.

According to TIME, the late monarch had been having health issues that kept everyone on high alert as she was being watched over at Balmoral Castle. A statement had been released, according to PEOPLE, that said: “Following further evaluation this morning, The Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision. The Queen remains comfortable at Balmoral.” She died shortly thereafter.

The following Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry reunited outside of Windsor Castle. The rare outing of the Fab Four was captured by mourners and photographers alike with social media soon buzzing.

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Prince Harry, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales (2022), (Emilio Morenatti-WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Twitter and similar platforms were soon flooded with gossip about the differences in behavior each royal exhibited, particularly how each royal treated their respective wife during this trying time. The crowd seemed to side overwhelmingly with Harry, who appeared to be more physically affectionate with his wife while the couples admired flower arrangements left outside the castle gates.

There had been some questions in the days leading up to Queen Elizabeth’s death about what role this run-away prince would take in the funeral. Coincidentally, Harry and Meghan had already been in the United Kingdom for a European trip where they were set to attend charity events “close to their hearts,” according to TIME. In a way, it was fortunate that this trip occurred at the same time as the queen’s death.

The Sun reported that Harry traveled to Balmoral by car while wearing a dark suit and tie, looking incredibly somber as the news washed over him that his grandmother had passed. According to TIME, Harry had flown to Scotland to be with his grandmother, leaving his wife Meghan alone and behind in London. PEOPLE reported that he flew alongside his uncles Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

Many others rushed to be by the queen’s side, including her other grandson, William, Prince of Wales. Similarly to Meghan, William’s wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, was not with them right away. She had rushed to pick their children up from school as soon as the news broke. This absence of their wives fueled comparisons between the two men and their marriages.

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Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (2022), (Kirsty O’Connor-WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Both men were especially close with their grandmother. According to OK! and the royal expert, the queen had a strong bond with her grandchildren in part due to the aftermath of their mother’s death.

When Princess Diana died in 1997, Elizabeth took care of young William and Harry. “That was one of the few times that the Queen has put family above duty,” author Katie Nicholl told OK!. “She made a decision to stay in Scotland … and be there for William and Harry, rather than come back and address a nation in grief. She was heavily criticised, but she felt her grandsons needed her, and that meant a great deal.”

Similarly, decades later, William and Harry would be criticized for who rushed to Balmoral and how each of them acted in the wake of the queen’s death. Harry, despite his absence, was largely praised for opening his wife’s car door and walking close to her during the different events. William, on the other hand, was called out for seeming distant and not appearing to be physically comforting toward Kate. During a 40-minute inspection of the bouquets outside the castle, eagle-eyed reporters and onlookers fixated on how much “better” Harry was acting, as both a royal and a husband.

While it’s fair to compare the siblings in matters of sports and hairlines, it is perhaps inappropriate to hold the grieving of one grandson up in comparison to the grieving of the other. Both men deserve privacy and a moment free of criticism as they navigate this unimaginable time.

What did you think of William and Harry’s behavior during the funeral? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends, family and any fellow royalists!

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