Prince William seemingly sent a strong message to his estranged brother, Prince Harry, as he hosted a garden party at Buckingham Palace.
The Prince of Wales held this event on behalf of King Charles and invited his cousins Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, and Mike Tindall. Royal expert Richard Eden tweeted, "I hope Prince William will be helped by his cousins when he becomes king just as Queen Elizabeth was loyally assisted by hers, such as the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra." By inviting his cousins, Prince William appears to validate Royal expert Jenny Bond's remarks that Prince Harry no longer holds a place in William's considerations.
Bond told Times Radio, "I don't think William gives Harry a thought. As far as William is concerned, Harry doesn't really exist. William has enough pressure on his heart and head with his wife undergoing cancer treatment, his father's responsibilities, and his children. He doesn't have room in his soul to worry about his estranged brother."
With his latest move, Prince William is also hinting at who his close aides might be when he eventually becomes king and where Prince Harry stands in that future. According to sources, Peter Phillips has been a reliable support for Prince William in recent years, especially since Harry relocated to America. Described as an older brother figure to William, Peter has been actively supporting both Catherine and William through Catherine's cancer diagnosis. Despite recent challenges, friends describe Peter as someone who brings laughter into their lives.
As the eldest child of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, Peter was not given a royal title at birth, reflecting his parents' desire for a normal upbringing. He fondly recalls childhood adventures with Prince William, reminiscing about the joyous times they shared during holidays spent with Queen Elizabeth II. These gatherings included other royal children, creating a lively and mischievous group. Despite the chaos, Peter reflects on those times with fondness.
Peter was reportedly deeply troubled by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's controversial Oprah Winfrey interview, particularly as it coincided with Prince Philip's hospitalization in 2021. He was profoundly affected by Prince Philip's passing, sharing a close bond with him. At Philip's funeral, Peter walked between the feuding brothers to prevent their rivalry from overshadowing the event. Later, he played a leading role in mourning the loss of Queen Elizabeth II.
After Catherine's cancer diagnosis, Peter praised the strength of her marriage with William, highlighting their ability to balance public duties with parenthood. He emphasized the importance of being present for their children and commended their ability to strike a balance between family life and royal obligations. Amidst all the whispers and side-eyes, Peter comes out swinging for Team Wales, praising their composure under relentless public scrutiny. Catherine, in particular, receives high praise from Peter. He told Sky News Australia, "Her and William make a fantastic team together.
Their kids are great, and they have the balance of public life and trying to be parents to three young children, which is always difficult. I think, as history has taught us and anyone knows, you actually want to be there for your children when they're of a certain age. You want to be able to drop them off at school, pick them up, and be a part of their school lives. I think they've pretty much got that balance right."
