Prince Harry and Prince William are said to have been ‘encouraged’ to ‘fight dirty’ play fights when they were children – but their brotherly bond is now said to be broken

As the rift between Prince Harry and Prince William continues to deepen, a book has shed light on their childhood interactions. Penned by journalist and Royal author Robert Jobson in 2013, ‘The New Royal Family : Prince George, William and Kate, The Next Generation’ offers a glimpse into the potential future of Prince William’s lineage.

The book delves into the past, examining how the princes’ upbringing could influence their parenting styles. At the time of the book’s release, future king Prince George had just been born.

One passage recalls the playful fights between Harry and William during their youth and their mother Princess Diana’s views on these exchanges. In the preface, Ken Wharfe, a member of the young princes’ protection team, is interviewed.

He was handpicked to lead the princes’ security detail and often assumed a parental role. Described as “fun and exciting”, Mr Wharfe was said to be exactly what the young royals needed.

He told the author: “‘This baby will have an amazing childhood, of that I am sure. But it will be different, of course. For one thing, he or she will have to get used to having an armed Scotland Yard personal protection officer watching over them night and day,'” reports the Express.

Ken Wharfe, a former Royal protection officer, reminisced about the playful yet rough antics of Prince William and Prince Harry during their childhood, revealing that Princess Diana encouraged their boisterous behaviour. He said: “Prince William’s own childhood is the blue-print he and Kate will base their own family life on.”

He fondly recalled how the young princes didn’t hold back during play fights, saying: “‘William and Harry were such fun-loving children. They loved to play fight and when they hit each other they meant it. Sometimes when I tried to break up the fights I was on the receiving end of their punches, they’ll vouch for that.

“‘They pulled no punches when they did, I can tell you. They would fight dirty, too, thinking nothing of punching you where it really hurts. But Diana encouraged it. She thought it was good for them to just be boys.'”

While the brothers shared a close bond in their youth, tensions have since risen, leading to what some claim is a rift between them. A source disclosed to the Daily Beast that Prince William has taken a firm stance within the Royal Family, akin to the late Prince Philip, even going so far as to “ban” Prince Harry from rejoining the Royal ranks.

The insider elaborated: “There is a sense that William has stepped into the Prince Philip role. Philip ruled the family with a rod of iron… Now William is calling the shots when it comes to family discipline… He can be scary! “.

Moreover, the source indicated that Prince William has made his authority clear by imposing an “absolute ban on Harry returning in any way, shape or form to the family fold”.

Former butler Paul Burrell has also weighed in on the Royal brothers’ relationship, telling Closer Magazine that William “knows that Harry can’t be trusted and doesn’t want any more upset in his family”.

Burrell further stated: “William won’t take any more cheap shots from across the Atlantic. He doesn’t care anymore. He doesn’t listen to the noise in the background and that’s what Harry and Meghan have become.”