Prince William and Prince Harry are forging their own paths.
“They are both alphas and raised to be leaders,” an insider says in this week’s issue of PEOPLE.
With William set to be king someday, he’ll have very different responsibilities than his brother – and with Harry expecting a baby in the coming days, it was time for the siblings to split their joint “court” at Kensington Palace for two separate offices.
Palace insiders brush off the shakeup as a natural progression of adult siblings and a chance for Harry and his new wife Meghan Markle to escape the “claustrophobic” life in London.
“It’s very important for Prince Harry and Meghan to flower and create a new direction,” says royal historian Robert Lacey.
Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!While William, 36, and Harry, 34, still attend formal events together – most recently on April 4, when they joined dad Charles to support their shared passion for conservation at the premiere of the Netflix documentary Our Planet – they don’t spend much time together and have separate groups of friends.
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“They are at very different situations in their lives,” says a close family friend.
Though the brothers are focused on different things at the moment, those who know them well say that the current distance between them will not last forever.
“There is never any doubt that they will be there for each other 100 percent and support each other when it matters,” says one insider.
“Maybe they’ll come back together a little later,” adds the source close to the royal household. “It’s another stage in the growing up. Sometimes you have to break away in order to come back.”