PRINCE William has told a pal he can’t “put his arm around” his brother anymore – after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle abandoned their royal duties.
He revealed his “sadness” over the tense relationship with his younger brother and the splitting of the Royal Family.
Prince William and Harry are said to have grown apart some time ago
The brothers, pictured on the steps of Wetherby School on Prince Harry’s first day
It comes days after Harry and Meghan announced they are stepping down as senior royals and plan to spend much of their time abroad.
The news took Buckingham Palace by surprise, with the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William, 37, given 10 minutes notice before the button was pressed.
Amid crisis talks and upset at the bombshell, HOARday Times reports the Duke of Cambridge hopes ones day everyone will “play on the team” again.
He said: “I’ve put my arm around my brother all our lives and I can’t do that anymore; we’re separate entities. I’m sad about that.
“All we can do, and all I can do, is try and support them and hope that the time comes when we’re all singing from the same page.”
The Queen has summoned Charles, William and Harry to a historic summit at Sandringham on Monday to thrash out the Royal Familys future.
Her Majesty also aims to sort the Sussexes roles, and Meghan, 38, could join in via conference call.
The Queens former press secretary Dickie Arbiter said tonight: This is a landmark meeting which is absolutely unprecedented.
A Palace source confirmed they will also discuss the next steps for the monarchy, with an announcement due within days.
They said said: The family will gather on Monday at Sandringham to talk things through.
Attendees will be Her Majesty, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex.
Following a series of meetings and consultations across the last few days, there are a range of possibilities for the family to review which take into account the thinking the Sussexes outlined earlier in the week.
Making a change to the working lives and the role in the monarchy for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will require both complex and thoughtful discussions.
Next steps will be agreed at the meeting and the request for this to be resolved at pace is still Her Majestys wish.
The aim remains to have it resolved in days not weeks. There are a range of possibilities to review.
The Queen is seeking future continuity and will not want Harry and Meghan open toaccusations that they will cash in.
Charles wants a smooth succession to the throne, and for his sons to retain their global star power.
Williams aims include a modern and progressive royal family, and not to be overshadowed by his brother and sister-in-law.
Prince Harry is said to suspect aides to William or Charles leaked his plan, with the other side blaming Meghan’s US PR team.
The couple say they will be“financially independent”as they “carve out a progressive new role”, but will still support theQueen.
They had reportedly told close friends they want to spend some of the next two months working out of Canada aftera six-week trial holiday over Christmas and New Yearwas deemed highly successful.
Friends in Canada and the US are supportive of the move, which they say comes after the couple have been sidelined by the monarchy.
Meghan, 38, flew to Britain on Monday after the couple spent six weeks away over Christmas.
But she has already returned totheir luxury bolthole on Vancouver Island, Canada.
It is rumoured Harry may fly to Canada to join his her as early as next week and there are fears he may never live in the UK ever again.
This comes as it has emerged the couples two dogs have stayed in North America after flying out with them for their Christmas break in another clue that the break could be permanent.
Harry has a packed diary next week including an official engagement at Buckingham Palace on Thursday which could be his last as a working royal, theDaily Mailreports.
Prince Charles pictured for the first time since the crisis broke – driving near his Scottish estate Birkhall in Aberdeenshire
