Prince Harry offered a glimpse into his early impressions of his future sister-in-law Kate when recounting their initial interactions in his memoir, Spare.
The book, which was released in 2023, detailed a time when Prince William insisted Harry attend a fancy-dress birthday party with a rather "cringy" theme - "Natives and colonials".
Harry, who admitted to disliking both fancy-dress parties and themes, was particularly unenthusiastic about this one. However, William's new girlfriend, Kate, offered to help them find outfits.
© GettyHarry's recollection of meeting Kate for the first time was notably positive. According to Harry, he "liked his new girlfriend".
Describing her in three words, the Duke added: "She was carefree, sweet, kind." He further elaborated on her personality, noting that she'd done a gap year in Florence and had an interest in photography, art and clothes.
The dad-of-two also reflected on enjoying making Kate laugh and the connection he felt with her "heavily disguised silly side".
© Getty ImagesWriting about his relationship with his sister-in-law, Harry went on to recall Prince William and Kate's royal wedding saying how much he loved Kate and how he felt that she was the sister he'd never had and always wanted.
He added that he was pleased that she'd forever be by William's side and that she was a good match for his older brother.
Fractured bond
Harry also discussed his feelings about William marrying Kate in his book Spare, describing their 2011 wedding day as bittersweet.
"I loved my new sister-in-law, I felt she was more sister than in-law, the sister I'd never had and always wanted, and I was pleased that she'd forever be standing by Willy's side. She was a good match for my older brother. They made each other visibly happy, and therefore I was happy too," he wrote.
"But in my gut I couldn't help feeling that this was yet another farewell under this horrid roof. Another sundering. The brother I'd escorted into Westminster Abbey that morning was gone – forever. "
© GettyHowever, since stepping down as working royals in 2020 and moving to California with their family, the close relationship has become somewhat strained.
In recent years, the Sussexes have aired allegations and grievances against the monarchy and members of Harry's family.
The breakdown in Prince Harry and Prince William's bond can be traced back to the early period of Harry's relationship with his wife Meghan, when his then-fiancée had a falling out with the Princess of Wales in the run-up to the Sussexes' wedding.
In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan described how Kate made her cry ahead of her wedding – the opposite of reports circulating ahead of the Sussexes' nuptials that Meghan left Kate in tears at Princess Charlotte's bridesmaid dress fitting.
© Getty ImagesPrincess Kate's thoughts on Harry
Russell Myers claims in his book William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story that Princess Kate was less interested than William in having Harry remain a working member of the royal family. The Duke of Sussex and his wife, Meghan Markle, ultimately stepped back from their royal roles in 2020.
"As an 'outsider', Catherine had witnessed the deterioration of William and Harry's relationship. She had seen Harry and Meghan become ever more bitter at having to follow the rules of a hierarchical and hereditary monarchy, until they felt as if they could follow them no longer," Russell writes.
"Sources suggest Catherine had less interest than her husband in trying to persuade Harry to stay in his current role. She believed William and Harry's fundamental differences as the 'heir and the spare' had created the inevitability of Harry wanting more from his role than being a bit-part player."
