While the fallout between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and the royal family has been widely reported, fewer people realize that the cracks started long before their official departure from royal duties.

In his memoir Spare, Harry revealed that the conflict with Prince William and Kate Middleton began well ahead of their 2018 wedding.

Once praised as the “Fab Four,” the two couples held a private meeting after the Sussexes’ honeymoon to address growing tensions—but instead of reconciliation, it reportedly ended in a heated confrontation.

A “Secret” Tea and an Unexpected Turn

In a chapter of Spare, Harry described how the Prince and Princess of Wales invited him and Meghan for tea at Adelaide Cottage. The meeting quickly turned uncomfortable when Meghan brought up the unease between the couples.

According to Harry, Kate believed Meghan was trying to gain access to her fashion network. The situation worsened when William and Kate were upset that they hadn’t received Easter gifts from the Sussexes.

Harry wrote, “Easter presents? Was this a thing? Willy and I had never exchanged Easter presents. Pa [King Charles] always made a big deal of Easter, sure, but that was Pa.” In the end, Harry claimed he and Meghan apologized for the misunderstanding.

Old Wounds Resurface

Tension escalated as Kate allegedly brought up a past incident—when Meghan had referenced her postpartum hormones after the birth of Prince Louis. This, according to Kate, was inappropriate, as the two women weren’t “close enough” to discuss such personal matters. Meghan, in turn, explained, “That’s how I talk with my girlfriends.”

As emotions flared, Harry recalled Kate gripping the leather seat so tightly her knuckles turned white. William reportedly jumped in to defend his wife, turning to Meghan and saying, “It’s rude, Meghan. It’s not done here in Britain.” Meghan’s sharp response: “Kindly take your finger out of my face.”

An Attempt at Reconciliation

Despite the outburst, the conversation reportedly ended with an embrace. But the damage seemed lasting. Reflecting on the situation, Harry wrote, “Was this really happening? Had it actually come to this? Shouting at each other about place cards and hormones?” He added that Meghan had assured Kate she’d never intentionally hurt her and simply asked that, if something ever did, Kate should let her know.

The Fallout Continues

In a recent BBC interview, Harry acknowledged that his family may never forgive him, especially in light of the revelations in Spare. The details of this intense encounter with William and Kate add further depth to the long-running royal rift—and underscore just how strained things had become behind closed doors, even before Harry and Meghan officially stepped away from royal life.