Reports suggest that William’s relationship with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has been strained for a long period, and the tension has extended beyond the couple themselves. The situation became so sensitive that William allegedly distanced himself from Justin Welby, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, due to Welby’s role in the Sussexes’ wedding.
Roya Nikkah, royal editor at The Times, revealed this claim during a recent podcast. She explained that Welby provided guidance and support to Harry and Meghan, who were already experiencing a frosty reception from the royal family in the lead-up to their wedding.
“They were heading into their wedding, and tension with the rest of the royal family kept rising,” Nikkah said. “They certainly developed a close bond with Justin.”
According to her, Welby invested significant effort in maintaining that relationship and offered counsel to the couple.
The situation escalated after Meghan’s explosive 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, where she alleged that the Archbishop had privately married her and Harry three days before the official ceremony. This claim placed Welby in a difficult position, eventually prompting him to issue a public clarification denying that he had conducted any such private wedding.
William took note of the controversy, Nikkah claims, and that was the turning point in his relationship with the former Archbishop. Although Welby’s team reportedly attempted to reach out and repair the situation, their efforts were met with silence.
Requests for meetings and attempts at reconciliation were allegedly ignored.
“William is someone who holds onto things,” Nikkah asserted. “He takes a position, and if someone chooses to align with the opposite side, he doesn’t forget it.”
