The rumours of a royal rift between the Cambridges and Sussexes has long been circulating ever since Duchess Meghan joined the fold.
Prince Harry even highlighted it in the documentary Harry & Meghan: An African Journey released in October, stating that he and his brother are “certainly on different paths at the moment”, but a new report has revealed things have not fared better one month on.
While it was reported that Prince William was “concerned” for his younger brother after he candidly spoke about the way he and Duchess Meghan are being handled in the press, it seems that members of the royal family are not any closer with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
A source told PEOPLE magazine that while “eyes are open” about the couple’s emotional distress, the relationship between Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan and the rest of the royal family has not grown any closer as a result.
“There hasn’t been this complete 180,” the source added. “Nothing has changed. They don’t speak, no one is checking in, no one is texting.”
While many dubbed Prince William, Duchess Catherine, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan the ‘Fab Four’ and fantasised about the ultimate royal friendship unit, it seems the Cambridges and Sussexes are keen to keep their households and lives separate.
Even on Remembrance Day when the foursome were reunited with the rest of the royal family, it was strictly professional.
“Everyone was doing their duties, doing what they needed to do on behalf of the family—and that was that,” PEOPLE‘s source revealed. “But there is a divide between the four of them. It’s hard for people to digest, because everyone wants them to be such a unit.”
WATCH: The royal family attends the National Service of Remembrance. Post continues after video…
In the explosive Africa documentary, Prince Harry addressed the rift with his brother saying, “Part of this role and part of this job, this family and the pressure that it’s under, inevitably stuff happens but we’re brothers, we’ll always be brothers.”
The red-headed royal added, “We don’t see each other as much as we used to because we’re so busy.
“But I love him dearly and the majority of the stuff is created out of nothing. But as brothers, you have good days, you have bad days.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are once again breaking with royal tradition and opting to spend the silly season in the US for Archie’s first Christmas.
“Having spent the last two Christmases at Sandringham, Their Royal Highnesses will spend the holiday this year, as a new family, with the Duchess’ mother Doria Ragland,” a statement from Buckingham Palace confirmed.
The Palace added that the decision has come in line with precedent set previously by other members of the royal family, and also “has the support of Her Majesty The Queen.”