Prince Harry and Princess Kate’s Relationship Through the Years: Revisit Their Ups and Downs

Credit: Jonathan Hordle/Shutterstock

Prince Harry and Princess Kate's Relationship Through the Years: Revisit Their Ups and Downs

Prince Harry’s relationship with Prince William isn’t the only dynamic that has changed over the years. The Duke of Sussex’s bond with his sister-in-law, Princess Kate, has gone through its own changes following his and Meghan Markle’s royal exit. Harry met Kate after she started dating his older brother while they were attending the University of St Andrews. When news broke that William had proposed to Kate, Harry told the press that he was “absolutely delighted” about their engagement. "I've always wanted a sister and now I've got one,” Harry gushed in December 2010. “I’ve known Kate for years, and it's fantastic that she is becoming part of the family.” After the Prince and Princess of Wales wed in 2011, Harry often stepped out with the couple for royal engagements. When Kate was pregnant with her and William’s oldest child, Prince George — born in July 2013 — the in-laws only got “closer,” per an insider. "He told her not to be afraid to call, no matter the time of day,” the source told Us Weekly of Harry and Kate at the time. When asked about his “mission” as an uncle to the future king, Harry told the BBC: “To make sure he has a good upbringing, and keep him out of harm's way and to make sure he has fun. The rest I'll leave to the parents." While William and Kate went on to welcome Princess Charlotte in May 2015 and Prince Louis in April 2018, Harry met now-wife Meghan during summer 2016. After they got engaged in fall 2017, the former military pilot confirmed his brother and sister-in-law had spent time with the Suits alum. “I’d been seeing her for a period of time when I literally didn’t tell anybody at all. And then William was longing to meet her and so was Catherine, so you know, [them] being our neighbors we managed to get that in a couple of – well, quite a few times now, and Catherine has been absolutely amazing,” Harry said in the couple’s engagement interview as Meghan called Kate “wonderful.” [jwplayer 4BAWWqUD-zhNYySv2] The Duchess of Cambridge told reporters that same month that she and her husband were “absolutely thrilled” for Harry and Meghan, noting: “It’s such exciting news. It’s a really happy time for any couple and we wish them all the best and hope they enjoy this happy moment.” Soon after, however, things got rocky as Meghan adjusted to royal life. In their December 2022 docuseries, Harry & Meghan, the Deal or No Deal alum and Harry reflected on how the U.K. media unfairly compared Meghan and Kate. The harsh press and allegations of racism were contributing factors in the twosome’s decision to step back from their roles as senior royals in January 2020 and relocate to America. As Harry and Meghan began to discuss their ups and downs with The Firm — first via a tell-all interview on CBS in March 2021 and again in their six-episode Netflix show — sources told Us that both William and Kate weren’t thrilled with the airing of dirty laundry. “I think that the idea that Kate’s being dragged into this will be upsetting for Kate who behind the scenes has tried really hard to be a peacemaker between William and Harry,” royal expert Kate Nicholl added during an interview with Entertainment Tonight in 2021. “She has been deeply saddened by the brothers’ falling out. Don’t forget she was incredibly close to Harry herself. Scroll through for more on Harry and Kate’s ups and downs:

Credit: Jonathan Hordle/Shutterstock

Prince Harry and Princess Kate's Relationship Through the Years: Revisit Their Ups and Downs

Prince Harry’s relationship with Prince William isn’t the only dynamic that has changed over the years. The Duke of Sussex’s bond with his sister-in-law, Princess Kate, has gone through its own changes following his and Meghan Markle’s royal exit. Harry met Kate after she started dating his older brother while they were attending the University of St Andrews. When news broke that William had proposed to Kate, Harry told the press that he was “absolutely delighted” about their engagement. "I've always wanted a sister and now I've got one,” Harry gushed in December 2010. “I’ve known Kate for years, and it's fantastic that she is becoming part of the family.” After the Prince and Princess of Wales wed in 2011, Harry often stepped out with the couple for royal engagements. When Kate was pregnant with her and William’s oldest child, Prince George — born in July 2013 — the in-laws only got “closer,” per an insider. "He told her not to be afraid to call, no matter the time of day,” the source told Us Weekly of Harry and Kate at the time. When asked about his “mission” as an uncle to the future king, Harry told the BBC: “To make sure he has a good upbringing, and keep him out of harm's way and to make sure he has fun. The rest I'll leave to the parents." While William and Kate went on to welcome Princess Charlotte in May 2015 and Prince Louis in April 2018, Harry met now-wife Meghan during summer 2016. After they got engaged in fall 2017, the former military pilot confirmed his brother and sister-in-law had spent time with the Suits alum. “I’d been seeing her for a period of time when I literally didn’t tell anybody at all. And then William was longing to meet her and so was Catherine, so you know, [them] being our neighbors we managed to get that in a couple of – well, quite a few times now, and Catherine has been absolutely amazing,” Harry said in the couple’s engagement interview as Meghan called Kate “wonderful.” [jwplayer 4BAWWqUD-zhNYySv2] The Duchess of Cambridge told reporters that same month that she and her husband were “absolutely thrilled” for Harry and Meghan, noting: “It’s such exciting news. It’s a really happy time for any couple and we wish them all the best and hope they enjoy this happy moment.” Soon after, however, things got rocky as Meghan adjusted to royal life. In their December 2022 docuseries, Harry & Meghan, the Deal or No Deal alum and Harry reflected on how the U.K. media unfairly compared Meghan and Kate. The harsh press and allegations of racism were contributing factors in the twosome’s decision to step back from their roles as senior royals in January 2020 and relocate to America. As Harry and Meghan began to discuss their ups and downs with The Firm — first via a tell-all interview on CBS in March 2021 and again in their six-episode Netflix show — sources told Us that both William and Kate weren’t thrilled with the airing of dirty laundry. “I think that the idea that Kate’s being dragged into this will be upsetting for Kate who behind the scenes has tried really hard to be a peacemaker between William and Harry,” royal expert Kate Nicholl added during an interview with Entertainment Tonight in 2021. “She has been deeply saddened by the brothers’ falling out. Don’t forget she was incredibly close to Harry herself. Scroll through for more on Harry and Kate’s ups and downs:

Credit: Shutterstock

2008

As Kate and William’s relationship got more serious, Harry helped keep the future princess at ease as she watched her then-boyfriend in the Order of the Garter ceremony in Windsor.

Credit: Shutterstock

2011

Harry served as the best man at William and Kate’s April wedding, with the younger prince famously telling his brother that the bride looked “beautiful” as she made her way to the altar.

Credit: Gouhier-Guibbaud-JMP/ABACA/Shutterstock

2012

Harry and Kate were seen laughing together at several engagements, including at the Olympics and Thanksgiving service.

Credit: David Hartley/Shutterstock

2014

Kate and Harry were seen giggling at Trooping the Colour.

Credit: AP/Shutterstock

2016

The trio launched their Heads Together charity.

Credit: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

2017

Sources told Us that Meghan and Kate met for the first time in early 2017 after William was introduced to the California native in November 2016.

Meghan later recalled her first meeting with Kate. “Even when William and Kate came over and I met her for the first time, they came over for dinner, and I remember I was in ripped jeans and I was barefoot,” she said in the Netflix series. “I was a hugger. I’ve always been a hugger. I didn’t realize that is really jarring for a lot of Brits.”

Credit: Will Oliver/EPA/Shutterstock

2017

The trio continued to do royal engagements together, making headlines in February after they competed against each other in a 50-meter race for charity in London.

Credit: Michael Bowles/Shutterstock

2017

After news of Harry and Meghan’s engagement broke in November, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge released a statement that read: “We are very excited for Harry and Meghan. It has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to see how happy she and Harry are together.”

Credit: Shutterstock

2018

Meghan briefly joined Harry, William and Kate’s previously established Royal Foundation. The foursome made their only appearance for the charity at a panel discussion about mental health in February.

While the group appeared to be in good spirits at the time, Meghan later hinted at backlash within The Firm after she brought up the #MeToo Movement and Time’s Up at the event.

“I didn’t know that that would be taboo to talk about,” she said during volume one of Harry & Meghan.

Credit: Shutterstock

2018

Leading up to Harry and Meghan’s wedding, reports surfaced that the actress and Kate argued over Charlotte’s dress. While the initial story stated that Meghan made the Duchess of Cambridge cry, the Duchess of Sussex has since alleged that the opposite happened.

Credit: Shutterstock

2019

As speculation about Harry and William’s relationship made waves, the Duke of Sussex went on a rare outing with Kate. The pair were seen laughing at the Anzac Day service at Westminster Abbey in April. That June, Harry and Meghan officially split their charity from William and Kate’s efforts.

Credit: Shutterstock (2)

2020

After news of Harry and Meghan’s exit broke, an insider told Us that Kate “wishes she could speak to Harry. She misses him and fears she’ll never be close to him again.”

Credit: Tim Rooke/Shutterstock x2

2020

Harry and Kate saw each other with their spouses at the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey — which marked the Sussexes last official royal engagement — in March. It appeared that the two couples didn’t talk to each other, and Harry later confirmed during an episode of Harry & Meghan that the outing was “cold.”

Credit: YouTube

2021

It would be 13 months before Kate and Harry saw each other again, with the latter returning to the U.K. for Prince Philip’s funeral in April. Kate, Harry and William were seen talking after the service.

“The Duchess of Cambridge made a point of speaking to Harry,” royal expert Nicoll told ET at the time. “And when she did that, you can see them visibly relax.”

Credit: Kirsty O'Connor/AP/Shutterstock

2022

Kate saw Harry again in September when he and Meghan attended Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. The two couples stepped out together to greet mourners who lined the streets of Windsor.

Credit: Chris Jackson/Pool/Shutterstock/Image Press/Shutterstock

2022

After the release of Harry & Meghan, a source told Us: “Kate feels hurt and betrayed that Harry would do this to her too, especially as the pair used to be so close."

Credit: Shutterstock (2)

2023

In his Spare memoir, Harry broke down his first impression of Kate before her wedding to William. "I liked his new girlfriend. She was carefree, sweet [and] kind. She'd done a gap year in Florence, knew about photography, art. And clothes. She loved clothes," he wrote. "Her name was Kate. ... I liked seeing Kate laugh. Better yet, I liked making her laugh. And I was quite good at it." The BetterUp CIO continued: "I've always wanted a sister and now I’ve got one. I've known Kate for years, and it's fantastic that she is becoming part of the family."

Credit: Kevin Dietsch/UPI/Shutterstock

2023

Harry revealed that he struggled with Kate and William's wedding. "I recall Willy walking her back up the aisle, and as they disappeared through the door, into the carriage that would convey them to Buckingham Palace, into the eternal partnership they'd pledged, I recall thinking: 'Goodbye,'" he wrote in Spare. "I loved my new sister-in-law, I felt she was more sister than in-law, the sister I'd never had and always wanted, and I was pleased that she'd forever be standing by Willy's side. She was a good match for my older brother."