SARAH VINE: Sorry, Meghan, there’s a new Fab Four now… and I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes facing them across the Damask in the drawing room at Balmoral
In this opinion column, Daily Mail commentator Sarah Vine argues that the once-close "Fab Four" of Prince William, Kate, Harry and Meghan has long since fractured, and that new alliances have formed around the royal brothers as Harry reportedly plans a permanent return to Britain. She contends William has good reason to be wary, given years of public criticism from Harry, and suggests the dynamic will be far harder to manage with the Sussexes potentially living nearby rather than airing grievances from California.
Vine catalogues Harry's past broadsides against William, including his Oprah interview remark that his brother felt "trapped", the "unconscious bias" claims linked to Archie's skin colour in his memoir Spare, allegations that Kate left Meghan "sobbing on the floor" over bridesmaids' dresses, and jibes about William's hair loss. She contrasts this with William's public silence, following the late Queen's example of discretion, but questions whether that restraint will hold if Harry returns to Britain, possibly settling in the Cotswolds, and tries to reassert himself within royal circles that William, as heir, ultimately controls.
- Columnist says the royal "Fab Four" has long broken down into rival camps.
- Piece revisits Harry's public criticisms of William over recent years.
- Author says William holds more power now if Harry returns to Britain.
New here? Start with this
Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and moved to California, and their relationship with Prince William and Kate has been strained ever since. The four were once nicknamed the "Fab Four" when they appeared to work closely together as senior royals, but that unity broke down amid disagreements and, later, a string of public criticisms from Harry, including in his memoir Spare and various television interviews.
William is heir to the throne, and Harry is his younger brother; their relationship matters because any rift between them affects the public image and stability of the monarchy. The piece being discussed is an opinion column, not a news report, reflecting on how these family tensions might play out if Harry and Meghan were to return to live in Britain rather than remain in the United States.
This background is useful for understanding ongoing speculation about a possible Sussex return to the UK, and why commentators see it as a moment that could reopen old grievances between the brothers.