Royal Rift: Prince William Reportedly Cuts Ties with Long-Time Friend Tom Bradby Over Perceived Betrayal
A once-close friendship between Prince William and royal correspondent Tom Bradby has reportedly fractured, with the future King allegedly feeling “betrayed” by the journalist. Bradby, who had a decades-long relationship with both William and his brother Prince Harry, is said to have fallen out of favour with William following a pivotal ITV documentary.
The bond between William and Bradby was once so strong that the then-Prince granted the correspondent his first official interview upon his engagement to Kate Middleton. This significant interview took place at St James’s Palace on November 16, 2010. The closeness extended to a personal level, with both William and Kate attending Bradby’s wedding to his wife, Claudia, the following year.
However, according to insights from royal reporter Russell Myers in his book, William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, the relationship soured dramatically after Bradby interviewed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for an ITV special during their 2019 tour of southern Africa.
The Interview That Changed Everything
Tom Bradby accompanied the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as part of the ITV documentary, which offered a candid glimpse into their lives and struggles as senior royals. During the interviews, Bradby famously asked Meghan Markle if she was “OK,” a question that resonated deeply with the public and highlighted the pressure the couple was under. Prince Harry also made a significant admission, stating that he and his brother, Prince William, were “on different paths at the moment.”
This statement, delivered on camera, was the first public confirmation of a discernible rift between the two royal brothers. The impact of these interviews was profound, and just three months later, in January 2020, Harry and Meghan announced their decision to step back from their royal duties and pursue a new life in California.
Friendship in Tatters: The Aftermath
Following the ITV documentary, reports emerged suggesting that royal advisors felt Tom Bradby had exploited Prince Harry’s “clear vulnerability.” A source close to the situation told the Daily Mail at the time that “The friendship between William and Tom is over. The Prince feels let down by Bradby and the way he has acted over the past few months.”
The source elaborated on Prince William’s perspective, stating, “William is a sensitive soul and believes it’s in times of crisis when you find out who your true friends are. It would be fair to say Bradby hasn’t been one of them.”
Tom Bradby himself acknowledged the difficult position he found himself in, admitting to feeling “caught in the middle” of the royal siblings. He described it as a “deeply uncomfortable place to be.”
Russell Myers’ book further suggests that Prince William felt “betrayed and severely let down” by someone he considered a trusted friend. According to a source cited in the book, William “never thought [Tom] would take a side like he did.” The source concluded that from William’s viewpoint, “the friendship was over there and then.”
A Long-Standing Connection Severed
Tom Bradby had cultivated a trusted friendship with both Prince William and Prince Harry over many years. His role as a journalist had even seen him act as an ally to the brothers, notably alerting them to the News of the World phone hacking scandal after details of their private conversations were leaked to the press.
Ironically, it was this same commitment to journalistic neutrality and his dedication to reporting that ultimately put him at odds with Prince William.
Bradby had been a guest at significant royal events, including attending Harry and Meghan’s wedding at Windsor Castle in May 2018. At the time, he spoke highly of the newlyweds, praising them as the “Royal Family’s natural rock stars.”
The perceived final blow to his relationship with Prince William appears to have come in January 2023. Prince Harry invited Tom Bradby to his new home in Montecito, California, where he discussed his candid memoir, Spare. During this interview, Harry made further critical remarks about the Royal Family, telling the journalist that his family was “complicit” in the “pain and suffering” inflicted upon his wife, Meghan. This interview, following the earlier documentary, seemingly cemented the end of Prince William’s friendship with the veteran royal correspondent.
