**Prince Harry Faces ‘Horrific Ultimatum’ From Meghan Markle Over Bond With Kate Middleton**
*Published: September 19, 2025 | 5:32 p.m. ET*
Prince Harry has reportedly been dealt what friends describe as a “horrific ultimatum” from his wife, Meghan Markle. Sources reveal that Meghan has demanded Harry finally let go of his bond with Kate Middleton, the sister-in-law he once considered his closest confidante.
Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, the 40-year-old Duke of Sussex has grown increasingly isolated from his family. While his relationship with older brother Prince William remains strained, insiders say Harry has quietly hoped to rebuild his warm connection with Kate, 43.
### Markle Sees Harry’s Bond With Kate as a Threat
However, Meghan, 44, is said to have made her feelings clear: she wants Harry to leave Kate behind “forever.” A source close to the Sussexes revealed, “Meghan hasn’t sugar-coated her demand – she wants Kate gone from the equation entirely. She views Harry’s nostalgia for that bond as a danger, and she’s insisted he cut ties for good. To her, holding on to Kate only makes him appear vulnerable.”
### Harry Hurt as Kate Stays Silent Amid Family Rift
Tensions reportedly intensified after Harry’s BBC interview in May, where he spoke of reconciliation but also disclosed that his father, King Charles, 76, was refusing his calls. The silence that followed — including from Kate herself — has left Harry anxious.
An insider commented, “Harry hasn’t received a single message from Kate since that visit. It’s really weighing on him because she was the one family member who always kept some channel of contact alive.”
Friends say Meghan’s response has been unsympathetic. A Hollywood contact noted, “Meghan envies the closeness Harry once shared with Kate. She can’t stand watching him long for someone tied to the royal life she fought to escape. To Meghan, Kate symbolizes that past — and she’s determined Harry won’t drift back toward it.”
### Meghan’s Jealousy Over Kate’s Popularity and Beauty
Sources also suggest Meghan is jealous of Kate’s widespread popularity and beauty. “She even sees her as a love rival in a way, as she knows Kate is beautiful and thinks Harry once held a torch for her when she started dating William,” said an insider.
Meghan’s strained personal history with Kate has been public. In 2021, during an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan went against reports by stating it was Kate who made her cry before the Sussex wedding. She later described her early encounters with William and Kate as “formal” and “jarring.”
### Harry’s Pain Over Estrangement from Family
Harry has openly admitted that his estrangement from Kate and his family is painful. In his memoir *Spare*, he recounted a physical altercation with William after his brother reportedly branded Meghan “difficult.”
Despite this, Harry has often looked to Kate as a possible bridge back to the family. One longtime friend shared, “Losing Kate’s support feels like the last straw. It’s crushing for him.”
### Meghan’s Reinvention and Struggles Compared to Gwyneth Paltrow
Sources say Meghan’s hard line regarding Harry’s relationship with Kate stems from her own insecurities. “She wants to reinvent herself as a global figure and erase the image of a struggling TV actress,” said a media insider.
“Just like Gwyneth Paltrow walked away from acting and built Goop, Meghan wants to shift into a lifestyle and leadership role. The difference is Gwyneth had an Oscar and an A-list career behind her — Meghan never will, and she is nowhere near as respected as Kate among the royals or royal fans.”
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As the royal family drama continues to unfold, fans and observers alike watch closely as Harry navigates the complex waters between loyalty to family and devotion to his wife.
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