Prince William’s Earthshot Prize Appointment Fuels Reconciliation Doubts with Prince Harry

The selection of Jason Knauf as the chief executive of the Earthshot Prize by Prince William appears to diminish hopes for a reconciliation with his brother, Prince Harry.

The Prince of Wales has designated the former head of The Royal Foundation and previous communications secretary at Kensington Palace to lead his Earthshot Prize initiative.

Knauf formerly managed communications for Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Prince Harry during his tenure at Kensington Palace.

After Meghan’s entry into the royal family following her engagement to Harry in 2017, Knauf broadened his responsibilities to oversee her communications as well.

He was a central figure in the discord that arose between Prince Harry and his older brother.

While still employed by Prince William and Kate Middleton, Knauf testified against Meghan Markle in a legal dispute.

He communicated via email to Simon Case, Prince William’s then-private secretary, voicing worries regarding Meghan’s conduct toward staff members.

In this email, Knauf asserted that Meghan had intimidated two personal assistants, resulting in their departure from the household, and was eroding the self-assurance of a third employee.

This correspondence became a critical point in the growing conflict between the siblings.

Meghan’s representatives firmly refuted these claims, suggesting they were part of a deliberate disparagement effort by the palace, whereas Harry characterized the leak’s effect as leaving Meghan in tears, accusing the institution of “gaslighting” them.

Knauf’s involvement exacerbated the division during Meghan’s 2021 privacy lawsuit against Associated Newspapers, the entity that publishes the Mail on Sunday, concerning the release of a personal letter she had written to her father, Thomas Markle.

When the matter was brought before the Court of Appeal, Knauf presented a witness statement that contradicted Meghan’s earlier assertions.

He disclosed that Meghan had sought his advice on the letter’s composition, hinting that she composed it with the understanding that it could be disclosed, a point the newspaper used to contend that it was not genuinely private.

In their Netflix documentary, Harry and Meghan voiced their astonishment and sense of betrayal regarding this matter, with their attorney Jenny Afia stating that Knauf’s declaration could only have been sanctioned by his superior.

Harry described it as evidence of the “symbiotic relationship” between the royal establishment and the media, which motivated him to leave the UK. Knauf’s representatives retorted that he had been requested to furnish evidence by all parties and had maintained impartiality, acting in accordance with legal counsel.

Following the separation of William and Harry’s residences in 2019, Knauf opted to remain with William and Kate, serving as their senior advisor and later as the CEO of their Royal Foundation until 2021.