Royal Rift Deepens Over Scheduling Conflict
Buckingham Palace staff have reportedly disputed Prince Harry's claims that they were informed in advance about his recent trip to Canada, creating another point of contention between the Duke of Sussex and the royal household. The disagreement centres around Harry's visit to Toronto for Remembrancetide events, which coincided with Prince William's five-day Earthshot Prize promotion in Brazil.
Conflicting Accounts Emerge
On November 5, Prince Harry's spokesperson released a defiant statement asserting that the royal household had been notified 'as a courtesy' about his planned visit to Canada. However, multiple palace sources now insist this announcement caught royal aides completely by surprise, raising questions about whether the courtesy communication ever actually occurred.
The timing of Harry's announcement proved particularly sensitive, as it emerged just as the Prince of Wales set foot on Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro. One royal expert described the diary clash as 'predictable', though Harry's team swiftly denied any suggestion of deliberate sibling rivalry.
A royal source told The Times that internally, palace staff considered it 'a bit rum' for Harry's team to claim advance notification when nobody in London appeared to know about the Canada trip until it was released to press.
Brothers Pursue Separate Paths
While William was engaging in diplomatic efforts in Brazil, including a 'fireside chat' with CNN's Christiane Amanpour where he carefully avoided discussing family matters, Harry was making his own mark in Toronto. The Duke of Sussex attended True Patriot Love's National Tribute Dinner on November 6, dressed in black tie and wearing his service medals.
During his speech, Harry spoke emotionally about his personal connection with Canada's military, referencing his training in Alberta and serving alongside Canadian Armed Forces members in Afghanistan. He also addressed the recent controversy about wearing an LA Dodgers cap instead of supporting Toronto's Blue Jays at the World Series.
'I am truly sorry for wearing a Dodgers hat,' Harry told the audience of 500, before joking that the cap had helped conceal his 'ever-increasing bald spot' under the venue's bright lights.
He also defended his wife Meghan, noting her deep affection for Toronto despite being a native Californian. The event was organised by Nick Booth, a former aide to both Harry and William, whose organisation True Patriot Love has been a major supporter of the Invictus Games movement.
Wider Context of Royal Tensions
This scheduling dispute represents the latest in a series of tensions involving the Sussexes and the royal household. It follows recent headlines about 'photo-gate', where images of Harry and Meghan partying at Kris Jenner's 70th birthday celebration were mysteriously deleted.
Royal watchers have noted the contrasting approaches of the two brothers, with one observer commenting that 'Unlike Harry, William doesn't air the family laundry in public'. During his Brazil visit, William spoke of wanting to surround himself with people 'who want to make change and do good in the world', while carefully avoiding direct commentary on family matters.
As both princes continue their separate charitable endeavours - William with Earthshot and Harry with Invictus Games - this latest disagreement over communication protocols suggests the path to reconciliation remains challenging for the royal family.
