London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Mar 24, 2026

It’s not just Harry and William: the top 10 warring brothers

It’s not just Harry and William: the top 10 warring brothers

From the Milibands to the Gallaghers, testosterone-fuelled rivalry is a tale as old as time

Stories of sibling rivalry have been around since Greek and Roman mythology, continuing through the Bible and Shakespeare. None of them, however, traded blows via Oprah interviews, Netflix deals and 400-page tell-all memoirs.

Tensions between “Willy” and “Harold” began when the younger brother married Meghan Markle and “stepped back” from royal duties. When the couple moved to California, they soon sat down for a bombshell chat with Oprah Winfrey which infuriated “The Firm” back home. This has now been followed by a six-hour docuseries and Harry’s explosive autobiography. For a couple so obsessed with privacy, they sure do share.

The stream of juicy revelations from Spare (published on January 10) — of cherry-popping, drug-taking, stepmother-disapproving, Taliban-killing, genital frostbite and princely fisticuffs — have widened the rift to historic proportions. The House of Cambridge vs The House of Sussex is now a clash worthy of a George R.R. Martin fantasy epic.

For context (OK, and our own amusement), we’ve compared the warring Windsors to recent history’s other famous feuding brothers, both real and fictional — while working out which one is the Harry and which is the William in each fraught relationship. Let the brotherly battles begin…

Grant vs Phil Mitchell


Grant vs Phil Mitchell

EastEnders’ thuggish, bullet-headed “bruvvers” ruled Walford with an iron first throughout the 90s. Sensible Phil and loose cannon “Grunt” eventually came to blows over women — brassy blondes Sharon and Kathy, as opposed to bouncy brunettes Kate and Meghan — while a long-reigning Queen (their pub’s bust of Victoria) looked unamused.

Which is Wills and which is Harry? Phil is William (Philliam?), left grunting and growling in London while his ex-army little bruv flees abroad. Although Grant is running an ex-pat pub in Portugal, rather than aligning his chakras in a Montecito mansion. Male pattern baldness is an issue for them all. Faaamily innit?

Liam vs Noel Gallagher


Liam vs Noel Gallagher


Britpop royalty Oasis disbanded in 2009 after a final fist fight between the luxuriantly browed brothers. They’ve been waging a bitter war of words ever since, with “our kid” calling Noel a “sad little dwarf” and “an angry potato”. Noel famously described Liam as “like a man with a fork in a world of soup” and once walloped him over the head with a cricket bat. How terribly posh.

Which is Wills and which is Harry? Noel is the steadier senior sibling, Liam the mad-for-it motormouth partial to cigarettes, alcohol and starting fights in empty rooms. Don’t look back in anger, lads.

Sherlock vs Mycroft Holmes


The consulting detective and his equally mega-brained elder brother have had a simmering rivalry since childhood. Sherlock teases government bigwig Mycroft for putting on weight, while Mycroft worries about “brother mine” taking drugs. Ahem.

Which is Wills and which is Harry? As a pillar of the British establishment, Mycroft is William. High-functioning sleuth Sherlock is Harry, a maverick outsider who’s been known to kill baddies (albeit fewer than 25). With sharper cheekbones and a flapping Belstaff coat, he could become “Stately Holmes”, with Meghan as sidekick “Dr Wellness”.

Kendall vs Roman Roy


Kendall vs Roman Roy


In HBO’s dynastic drama Succession, the sons of multi-billionaire mogul Logan Roy bicker, backstab and drop F-bombs in their bid to inherit his Waystar Royco media conglomerate. Roman’s nickname of “Romulus” even nods to the founder of Rome who killed his twin Remus.

Which is Wills and which is Harry? Kendall is Wills, the heir apparent desperate for daddy’s approval. Roman is the immature brat who can’t stop shooting his mouth off. His fixation with colleague Gerri also echoes Harry losing his virginity to an older woman - although their flirtation plays out in boardrooms and hotel suites, rather than a field behind a pub.

JR vs Bobby Ewing


JR vs Bobby Ewing


They might not be properly blue-blooded but the Dallas siblings were oil barons, at least. They were forever battling for parental favouritism and control of family firm Ewing Oil, while their glossy-haired wives competitively power-dressed and exchanged dirty looks across Kensington Palace. Sorry, Southfork Ranch.

Which is Wills and which is Harry? William is JR, the ruthless charmer who inherits the company. Harry is the altruistic moderniser. Like Bobby, he’s probably hoping to wake up and realise it was all a bad dream.

Mufasa vs Scar


Hamlet-inspired Disney classic The Lion King depicts the murderous rivalry between noble Mufasa and his power-hungry younger brother. Sly, bitter Scar plots to kill first Mufasa, then cub prince Simba, so he can seize the Pride Lands throne for himself. Luckily he’s defeated and torn to pieces by hyenas. Well, it’s the Circle Of Life. Or something.

Which is Wills and which is Harry? Both princes have thinning manes but William is king of the jungle, while Harry lazes and schemes in the sun. Perhaps the princes should sing “Hakuna Matata”, man-hug and make up.

The Hound vs The Mountain


The two most feared warriors in Westeros were Sandor “The Hound” Clegane and his elder brother Gregor, aka “The Mountain”. The hirsute hulks hated one another since boyhood, when sadistic Gregor shoved Sandor’s face into a fire during a squabble over toys. Game Of Thrones fans demanded a duel, dubbed “Cleganebowl” by meme-makers. In the much-maligned final season, they got their wish. Result? Both died but The Hound did so heroically.

Which is Wills and which is Harry? Hard to say but forget broken necklaces and dog bowls. We’re talking gouged eyes and crushed skulls. In those skirts and with winter coming, don’t rule out a frostbitten penis either.

Ed vs David Milliband


Ed vs David Miliband


Who needs Buckingham Palace when we’ve got the Palace of Westminster? Elder sibling David, widely seen as the more gifted politician, was hot favourite to win the 2010 Labour leadership race - until brother Ed decided to run against him. Union backing propelled the bacon sarnie-scoffer to a shock narrow win.

Which is Wills and which is Harry? David might be the elder brother but he’s Harry, having resigned as an MP and moved to the US in a huff.

Thor vs Loki


Thor vs Loki


Avengers and princely parallels assemble. One of the standout relationships in the seemingly endless Marvel universe is the enmity between Thor, the God of Thunder and King of Asgard, and his trickster little brother. Loki actor Tom Hiddleston has described it as “like King Lear but nastier”.

Which is Wills and which is Harry? As heir to Odin’s throne, golden boy Thor is basically William with bigger biceps, more hair and a hammer. Meanwhile, “God of mischief” Loki is a jealous narcissist with his own streaming TV show. Remind you of anyone?

Michael vs Fredo Corleone


Michael vs Fredo Corleone


Not to be confused with the Cadbury’s chocolate frog (he has two Ds), Fredo was the weak, womanising middle brother in The Godfather’s crime family. When young buck Michael was made Don, resentful Fredo betrayed him to gangland rivals. Realising Fredo was the traitor (“I know it was you. You broke my heart”), Michael delivered the kiss of death - although he tactfully waited until their mother was dead to order his brother’s execution.

Which is Wills and which is Harry? Well, only one of them “went against the family”. Perhaps Harry should check for horse’s heads at bedtime.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Trump Signals Frustration with UK Leadership Amid Diverging Approaches to Iran Conflict
UK Government Takes Control of Hunterston B as Landmark Nuclear Decommissioning Begins
UK Public Inflation Expectations Jump Sharply in March, Raising Pressure on Bank of England
UK Ministers Warn Expanded North Sea Drilling Would Deepen Exposure to Global Energy Volatility
Delayed UK Defence Investment Plan Leaves Suppliers Under Severe Financial Strain
Can Iran Strike the UK? Assessing the Real Military Threat as Conflict Escalates
Sanctioned Iranian Banker Linked to Luxury Marbella Villa Through UK Corporate Structure
Casey Bloys Navigates HBO Max UK Launch, Paramount Integration and Industry Buzz Over Netflix Meeting
Iran Conflict Sparks Sharp Turbulence in UK Mortgage Market, Reaching Pandemic-Era Disruption Levels
Major Donor Urges University of Kentucky to Reconsider Mitch Barnhart’s Post-Retirement Role
United Kingdom Moves to Lead International Effort to Reopen Strait of Hormuz
UK Police Investigate Targeted Attack on Jewish Ambulance Vehicles
UK Police Investigate Targeted Attack on Jewish Ambulance Vehicles
Senior UK Advocate Criticises Barnhart Retirement Appointment, Calls for Reconsideration
UK Finds No Evidence of Direct Iranian Threat to Britain, Says Prime Minister Starmer
Assessing Iran’s Strike Capability and the UK’s Readiness Amid Rising Tensions
NATO Unable to Confirm Iran’s Role in Strike on UK-US Base as Tehran Denies Involvement
University of Kentucky’s Youling Xiong Receives SEC Faculty Achievement Award for 2026
Trump Highlights Satirical Portrayal of UK Leadership Amid Talks with Prime Minister Starmer on Iran Conflict
Trump Highlights Satirical Portrayal of UK Leadership Amid Talks with Prime Minister Starmer on Iran Conflict
UK Fuel Prices Surge Toward Crisis Levels as Experts Warn of Further Sharp Increases
UK Fuel Prices Surge Toward Crisis Levels as Experts Warn of Further Sharp Increases
Duchess of Sussex Secures ‘As Ever’ Trademark Rights in Australia Ahead of High-Profile Visit
UK Reaffirms Security as Officials Reject Claims of Immediate Iranian Missile Threat
Rising Middle East Tensions Spark ‘Trumpflation’ Debate Over Impact on UK Households
UK Minister Says No Evidence Iran Can Strike Europe Despite Heightened Warnings
British-Iranians Voice Safety Concerns to Authorities as Regional Conflict Intensifies
Confirmed Meningitis Cases Linked to Kent Outbreak Revised Down to Twenty
UK Government Sees No Evidence Iran Can Strike London Amid Rising Regional Tensions
Debate Grows Over Recognition of Indigenous Cultural Icons in the United Kingdom
Iran Missile Launch Toward Diego Garcia Raises Questions After Failed Strike on US–UK Base
Donald Trump Amplifies Viral Satirical Clip Highlighting UK–US Political Dynamics
UK Satirical Show Draws Attention with Sketch Referencing Trump and Prince Andrew
Meghan Markle’s Possible UK Return Sparks Renewed Attention on Sussex Role
Starmer Convenes Urgent Talks on Cost-of-Living Pressures Linked to Iran Conflict
Starmer Convenes Urgent Talks on Cost-of-Living Pressures Linked to Iran Conflict
UK Investors Eye Bargain Shares Ahead of ISA Deadline Amid Market Volatility
UK Investors Eye Bargain Shares Ahead of ISA Deadline Amid Market Volatility
Northern Lights Expected Over UK Skies Tonight Amid Strong Solar Activity
UK Condemns Iran Missile Strike and Warns Against Threats to British Personnel
UK Warns of Global Flight Disruptions as Iran Conflict Escalates Under Trump’s Leadership
UK Condemns Iran After Missile Strike Targets Strategic Diego Garcia Base
Deadly Meningitis Outbreak in UK Reinforces Urgency of Vaccination Campaigns
Iran Launches Long-Range Missile Strike on Remote US-UK Base, Signaling Expanded Reach
Iran Launches Long-Range Missile Strike on Remote US-UK Base, Signaling Expanded Reach
UK Rules Out Cyprus Base Role in Joint US Self-Defence Framework
UK Ends Hereditary Peerage Rights in Parliament in Historic Constitutional Reform
Lord Walney Warns of Expanding Iranian Influence Networks Within the United Kingdom
Iranian National Among Two Arrested After Attempt to Access UK Nuclear Submarine Base
Deregulation, Artificial Intelligence, and Fraud Laws Reshape UK Financial Services Landscape
×