Move over, Hollywood—the royal family rivalry is officially crossing the Atlantic, and the stakes have never been higher! While Prince Harry and Meghan Markle thought they had carved out a peaceful, independent sanctuary in California after stepping down from royal duties in 2020, a shocking new financial report proves that you can run across the globe, but you certainly cannot hide from your royal roots.

According to a bombshell report by the Daily Mail, Prince William and Princess Kate’s charitable vehicle—The Royal Foundation—has just pulled off an astonishing fundraising coup in the United States. Raking in a staggering £8.7 million (nearly $12 million USD) from American supporters last year, the massive haul accounted for an eye-popping 44 percent of the charity’s total reported donations for 2025.

Naturally, this transatlantic cash splash has set the rumor mills spinning and allegedly sent shockwaves straight through Montecito, leaving Prince Harry feeling more than a little triggered.

A House Divided by an Ocean… and a Balance Sheet

For Harry, 41, and Meghan, 45, the road to building an independent empire in the U.S. has faced its fair share of hurdles. Just months before this financial revelation dropped, Archewell—the couple’s much-hyped foundation—underwent a significant restructuring phase accompanied by noticeable staff cuts.

Seeing William and Kate step boldly onto American soil and capture a massive slice of philanthropic donor dollars has reportedly struck a raw nerve. An insider close to the situation spilled the beans to Closer, revealing that the Sussexes are deeply bewildered by the Waleses’ aggressive push across the pond.

“They don’t understand why William and Kate, and particularly William, seem so intent on growing their influence in America,” the insider shared. “They feel as though they are doing it just to purposely be competitive, which is something Harry has always accused William of.”

To make matters worse, Harry reportedly feels like he can’t escape his older brother’s shadow, no matter how many thousands of miles of ocean separate them.

“His brother is thousands of miles away, but he’s somehow still managed to find a way to one-up him,” the source continued, adding that William’s sudden surge in American popularity feels intensely personal to the Duke of Sussex.

Business as Usual or a Calculated Conquest?

While the Sussex camp views the influx of U.S. donations as a targeted strike, people close to the future King of England insist there is no malicious intent behind the scenes.

William, 44, has consistently maintained that his international ambitions are strictly tied to expanding global awareness for his passion projects, most notably the high-profile Earthshot Prize—which brought him stateside back in 2023. His inner circle emphasizes that leveraging Hollywood’s elite and tapping into U.S. philanthropic networks is simply a smart, strategic move to maximize reach for environmental and social causes.

“His stance is that he wants as much reach as possible for Earthshot and Hollywood celebrities are a great help in getting his message out, plain and simple,” the insider noted, defending the Prince of Wales.

Furthermore, William’s team reportedly dismisses any claims that these fundraising milestones are designed to undermine or compete with Harry and Meghan. As far as the Palace is concerned, it is purely “business as usual.” However, they aren’t entirely shocked that the Sussexes have taken it personally.

“He’s not surprised Harry and Meghan would make this all about them, though, because they always see everything as some sort of personal attack when it’s purely business as usual,” the source concluded.

As these two royal factions continue to navigate their distinct paths on the global stage, one thing is abundantly clear: the battle for hearts, minds, and wallets in America has only just begun.

Source: Compiled from various sources