Prince William is "very upset" and "reeling" over the bombshell claims made by his younger brother Prince Harry and sister-in-law Meghan Markle during their Oprah interview, friends claim.
Pals of the Duke of Cambridge have reportedly said the Megxit drama is "still raw" and the future king's head "is all over the place" after Harry confirmed the rift between them continues.
A former Palace aide said William, 38, misses Harry, 36, who moved to Canada with wife Meghan and son Archie in late 2019 before settling in suburban Los Angeles last year.
Harry told Oprah that he and William are on "different paths" and there is "space" between them, while Meghan claimed an unnamed royal made a racist comment about Archie and the institution didn't help her through her mental health struggles.
A former Palace aide told the Sunday Times: “Once he got over the anger of how things happened, he was left with the absence of his brother,”
“They shared everything about their lives, an office, a foundation, meetings together most days and there was a lot of fun along the way. He’ll miss it forever.”
A close friend of the siblings claims William feels that the pressure is "all on him" and his future is different now because of Harry's decision to quit his role as a senior royal.
Another friend added: “It’s still raw. He’s very upset by what’s happened, though absolutely intent that he and Harry’s relationship will heal in time.”
A source claimed to the Sunday Times that William and Harry went for a long walk after the so-called "Sandringham Summit", when the Megxit deal was finalised, but the brothers did not part as friends.
William felt Harry and Meghan had "blindsided" the Queen in an "insulting and disrespectful way", the source said.
Harry denied reports that the Queen and Charles were “blindsided” by his and Meghan’s decision to quit as senior members of the Firm.
He told Oprah: "No, I never blindsided my grandmother. I have too much respect for her."
Friends also said Harry's claim that William was "trapped" in the Royal Family was "way off the mark", and the Duke of Cambridge disagrees with the comment.
William's head "is all over the place" in the aftermath of the interview, it is said.
Gayle King, who is friends with the Sussexes and Oprah, told viewers of CBS This Morning that Harry has spoken to William and their dad after the explosive interview aired on March 7 in the US.
Ms King claimed the talks were "not productive".
She also said Meghan, 39, has evidence to back up her claims, and alleged that the Royal Family had not contacted the American duchess following the couple's interview with Oprah.
It came just days after William told reporters that he planned to speak to Harry.
During a visit to a school in east London with wife Kate, he defended the House of Windsor and said the royals are "very much not a racist family", in response to Meghan's allegations.
The monarchy was plunged into crisis following the shocking allegations of racism made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Harry and Meghan accused an unnamed royal - not the Queen nor Prince Philip - of raising concerns about what colour their son Archie's skin tone would be before he was born in May 2019.
Meghan also told of how she begged for help when she was suicidal, but said the institution gave her no support.
The Queen said the issues were concerning, but that "some recollections may vary" and the matter was a family one that would be dealt with privately.
Harry told Oprah he felt "really let down" by his father following Megxit, and the rift with his brother hadn't been healed but he still hopes that time will change that.
He also claimed there was a lack of support and understanding from his family as he and Meghan quit their royal roles.
It has been claimed that Harry and William have not seen each other in a year following the awkward Commonwealth Day service in March 2020, which was the Sussexes' final royal engagement before they quit as senior royals.
They are expected to reunite this summer for the unveiling of a statue to Diana, who died aged just 36 in a car crash in Paris in August 1997.
The statue will be revealed in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace on July 1 on what would have been the Princess of Wales' 60th birthday.
Harry talked about Diana during the Oprah interview, saying she wouldn't be happy with the way he and Meghan were treated while stepping away from royal life.
Harry also compared Meghan, 39, to his mother.
He told Oprah: "You know, for me, I'm just really relieved and happy to be sitting here, talking to you with my wife by my side because I can't begin to imagine what it must've been like for [my mother] going through this process by herself all those years ago."
He added: "My biggest concern was history repeating itself."
