Royally complicated. Prince William  and Duchess Kate ’s relationship with Prince Harry  and Meghan Markle  has been a topic of much discussion in the years since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex met.  Harry welcomed Kate to the royal family when she and William began dating in 2003 . Harry forged a close bond with his sister-in-law, which only grew after she married his older brother in 2011. However, the younger prince “felt very much like a spare wheel,” royal expert Katie Nicholl  told Entertainment Tonight  in July 2020.  Harry learned what it was like to be a part of a royal duo in 2016 when he started dating Meghan . They quickly gained popularity with the public, but his family was less enthusiastic about the partnership, which caused tension between him and William.  Rumors of a rift between Kate and Meghan  — and later, William and Harry  — took hold, but the foursome put on a united front when the cameras were pointed toward them. Harry gave up the façade in October 2019, fina...