Kate Middleton's decision to remain silent on Prince Harry's 41st birthday has been widely interpreted as a clear sign that she is fully backing Prince William in his long-running rift with his younger brother, intensifying speculation that reconciliation is further away than ever.
Harry turned 41 on Sept. 15, just days after a rare, 54-minute meeting with King Charles III at Clarence House - their first face-to-face encounter in 19 months - which had been seen as a potential thaw in father-son relations. But no public birthday wishes came from the Prince and Princess of Wales this year, a notable departure from last year, when the royal family's official account and William and Kate's page posted messages marking Harry's 40th.
"The royals have to speak in code," one insider said. "They won't respond to every criticism out loud, so they use subtle signals instead. Skipping Harry's birthday message was one of those signals - calculated, maybe even harsh, but very deliberate."
The silence underscores how deeply personal the feud has become. Harry and Meghan's 2020 departure from royal duties, followed by their Oprah interview and the publication of Harry's memoir Spare, left relations between the brothers strained. "Harry and Meghan branded Kate a liar in front of the world," one source told RadarOnline.com, referencing Meghan's claim that Kate made her cry in the run-up to the 2018 royal wedding. "For William, it cut deeply because it was aimed at his wife. Kate has made it clear she's standing with him - her silence on Harry's birthday underlined that."
Royal commentators say William has grown increasingly "indifferent" toward his brother. "Fundamentally, I think there's been a breakdown of trust," author Katie Nicholl said. "William just doesn't trust his brother. He feels betrayed and let down, at one of the toughest periods of his life. His priority is not Harry, but his wife and children."
Kate, who underwent preventative chemotherapy treatment in 2024, is said to be focused on her health and family rather than mediating the brothers' disputes. "Kate has literally had to fight for her life," Nicholl noted. "So she's most concerned about being there for her family, and has more important things to worry about than the rows."
Harry has publicly expressed a desire to mend ties. "I would love reconciliation with my family," he told the BBC earlier this year. "There's no point in continuing to fight anymore. Life is precious." Yet sources say William and Kate "didn't lift a finger to meet Harry while he was in the UK," signaling that no rapprochement is imminent.
