Prince Harry’s alleged Kate Fling sparked a row with William

A former royal aide insisted the pair had an ‘almost affair’, saying William was never able to fully overcome his jealousy about it.

A source said: “The tensions it caused still reverberate in the current rift between the once inseparable princes.”

The renewed conversation began after Grant Harrol, King Charles’ former butler, recalled the rift between William and Middleton in 2007 in his book. The royal butler.

He said of Harry and Middleton: “They got on so well. I remember when Prince William and Kate broke up – you know, Prince Harry and Kate got on so well that I even thought she and Harry might get together.”

He continued: “They were so close. They were best friends, and I wouldn’t put it past Harry to think, ‘Well, she’s a beautiful girl, my brother didn’t want her. I’ll have her.’

‘That wouldn’t have surprised me at all. So it could easily have been Harry and Catherine, I thought. But you know, luckily William has her back. What I’m trying to say is, that’s how close they were.’