Prince William receiving support from unlikely ally as they also reach out to Prince Harry in royal divide
Living such a public life has understandably left the Prince of Wales with only a close-knit circle of people that he can trust implicitly. And while he has his cousins and the school and university friends that he and the Princess of Wales share, there is another group who are often praised for their discretion and support.
The Spencer family have long made their devotion to Princes William and Harry clear, and can be frequently seen showing this support at important engagements. And, after three of Charles, Earl Spencer's daughters, Lady Kitty, Lady Eliza and Lady Amelia, joined their cousin as he hosted the Centrepoint Awards 2024, it is clear that this remains a vital relationship.
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond exclusively told OK!: "I really admire the way the Spencer family have clearly maintained a close and private relationship with both William and Harry. It is what Earl Spencer promised during his dramatic oration at Diana’s funeral. "The relationship has mostly gone under the radar, but it’s obvious that the Earl and his daughters have remained very much in touch with both William and Harry. And that is certainly what Diana would have hoped for, especially as both of her sisters both seem to have managed to remain on good terms with their nephews.
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"One of the most important aspects of their relationship is their discretion. I suspect there has been and still is a great deal more contact and support than we ever hear about. And in royal circles, that is the basis for a truly close and continuing relationship. It must be quite a tight rope to walk – but the Spencers seem to be very good at it."
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Going back to May when Prince Harry travelled to the UK to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, he too was supported by his aunts and uncle. Just like with William having his cousins and aunts at his high profile solo engagements, Jennie pointed out just what a balm having that sense of deep family support will be for the brothers. She explained: "The Spencers are sufficiently removed from the Windsor side of the family to make their support for Harry public.
"It doesn’t mean they agree with everything he has said or written about the royal side of the family... but it does mean that they intend to honour the pledge to their sister made by Earl Spencer at Diana’s funeral: 'To do all we can to continue the imaginative way in which you were steering these two exceptional young men so that their souls are not simply immersed by duty and tradition, but can sing openly as you planned.'"
There have been countless ways that the two brothers have forged their own paths when it comes to their private and public lives as Jennie adds: "I believe Diana would have sorted things out between the boys long ago. She would have understood both sides, having rebelled against the system herself.
"I think she would have acted as a go-between and knocked William and Harry’s heads together to make them see sense. Perhaps, with his mother to guide and support him, Harry would never have felt the need to speak out on TV and in his book. Her most fervent wish was for her two boys to be best friends for life, and support one another other through their strange destiny. She would have been heartbroken to see how bad things are between them now."
