Brothers William and Harry were considered to be very close while growing up. In 2009, they set up a charity called the Royal Foundation, hoping to help a whole range of causes from mental health to homelessness. When William married his university sweetheart Kate Middleton, she became a patron of the charity and the three of them were believed to have a truly strong bond. Harry married American actress Meghan Markle in May 2018 after a whirlwind romance.

She also became a patron of the Royal Foundation – but just over a year later, the two announced they would be splitting from the family charity and setting up their own instead.

This added to months of speculation about a rift between the two royal couples. 

The only interview the four of them have taken part in together – to date – was at the first annual Royal Foundation Forum in February 2018, when Meghan had not yet married Harry.

When asked by interviewer Tina Daheley if the family ever have disagreements, there was an awkward giggle among the four. 

The Duke of Cambridge turned to the audience and said: “Oh, yes.”

Harry added quietly: “[They are] healthy disagreements.”

Ms Daheley asked for more detail, but Harry rebuffed her and said: “I can’t remember, they come so thick and fast.”

The interviewer asked if any recent disagreements had been resolved, so William shrugged and said: “Is it resolved? We don’t know.”

Ms Daheley said: “Well, you’re putting on a great show if not!”

The Duke of Sussex explained: “We’ve got four different personalities and we’ve got the same passions to make a difference but different opinions.

“I think those opinions work really really well. 

“Working as a family does have its challenges and the fact that everyone is laughing shows they know exactly what it’s like.

“We’re stuck together for the rest of our lives.”

The two couples both lived on the Kensington Palace estate, but earlier this year the Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved into Windsor’s Frogmore Cottage with their baby son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.

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This sudden split – which also triggered the division of their household staff – came as a shock to many, especially as Harry and Meghan had reportedly only just decorated their Kensington apartment.

It was announced in June that the Harry and Meghan would be setting up their own charity called Sussex Royal.

While a Palace aide told Vanity Fair the split was down to “very different ambitions” – the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are likely to take their foundation abroad, while the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge focus on problems at home – the ‘Fab Four’ seemed determined to work together last February.

During the interview, Meghan said: “Thank goodness we’re such different personalities and everyone’s very communicative because that’s how you can really see bigger change.”

Kate added: “Sometimes it is hard to find these common ground, where everyone really can get behind.”

She explained “that is the challenge” because “everyone is working towards our own ambitions”, but if you can collaborate “you make a much bigger impact”.

The Royal Foundation’s website claims it will continue working together with Sussex Royal “on projects in the future”, including on the mental health programme, Heads Together.

Harry and Meghan will be embarking on a ten-day tour of South Africa, Angola, Botswana and Malawi on Monday with their son Archie.

Some have speculated this shows how they are already considering how to expand their foundation abroad.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also squeezed in a trip to Italy this week, before they jet to Africa, to attend fashion designer Misha Nonoo’s wedding.

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