Prince William may have lost his younger brother Prince Harry in their long-running feud, but the king-in-waiting apparently gained "two brothers" in the process. Both a cousin and a cousin-in-law are said to be helping their future monarch both privately and publicly as Kate, Princess of Wales and King Charles III battle cancer.
The Prince of Wales is said to have bonded with and "leans on" his cousin, Peter Phillips, 46, and Zara Tindall's husband, Mike, 45.
"When two people in a family fall out, it makes life very difficult not only for them but for the rest of the family, too," veteran royal reporter Jennie Bond told an outlet when discussing the rift. "Loyalties are tested and there is no easy answer."
She continued: "This is a time when William needs all the love and support he can get from his family. His brother is not, and will not, be here to help or provide a shoulder to cry on. And so I'm really glad that William has a cousin who is almost like a brother to him in Peter Phillips."
The future monarch recently invited both to a Buckingham Palace Garden Party he hosted for King Charles III, along with Zara and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
"I can imagine the three of them having a lot of fun together, she added. "This is William's inner circle. People he can trust absolutely and who are showing that they are there for him when the going gets tough."
When observing how the millennial generation royals acted at the annual palace springtime tradition, Bond continued: "I think it gave us a glimpse of the future for when William becomes King. He may not have his brother at his side, but he will have a band of loyal and close relatives to help him represent the monarchy. I'm sure that, whenever they can, they will step up to help William when the burden of Kingship finally falls on his shoulders."
The Prince of Wales is rumored to not be a fan of the monarchy's anticipated traditions that maintain the institution's long and colorful past of pomp and pageantry, but guests couldn't tell thanks to his commitment to the event.
"It is normal for the royal gentlemen to not particularly enjoy dressing in 16th or 19th-century clothing in the 20th and 21st centuries," a palace insider spilled. "In fact, there are reports suggesting both Queen Victoria and even Queen Elizabeth II didn't care for some of our monarchy's lacquered flummery and outlandish costumes. Prince Philip absolutely despised pomp and circumstance, but it is their duty, and getting rid of it would destroy the Crown."
William's lead at the May 22 event continued his busy streak of non-stop royal engagements after a break to care for his ailing spouse as she receives preventative chemotherapy treatments.
The New York Post reported on Bond's insights.