William and Harry have attended many events side-by-side. But will Harry's wedding be different? Photo / Getty Images
William and Harry have attended many events side-by-side. But will Harry's wedding be different? Photo / Getty Images
Prince Harry has not yet asked his brother to be his best man, Prince William has claimed.
According to the Daily Mail, the royal also joked that as President of the FA, he is "still working" on the diary clash that sees the Royal wedding being held on the same day as the FA Cup final.
Many have expressed surprise that Harry and fiancée Meghan Markle chose one of the biggest days in the British sporting calendar to tie the knot at Windsor Castle, on Saturday May 19.
But both Kensington Palace and the FA insist there will be no direct clash between the nuptials and the match and that it will very much be a day to remember.
With Harry having acted as best man for his brother when he married the Duchess of Cambridge in 2011, William is expected to be a shoe-in for the role.
William talked about the wedding as he joined a discussion of what makes a 'best man' at an event run by the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), a charity aimed at preventing male suicide through open discussion which has recently launched a 'Best Man Project' celebrating men's friendship.
Radio DJ Roman Kemp, compering, highlighted the Duke's own role as best man in the coming months.
Asked by footballer Rio Ferdinand about the awkward clash of dates on May 19 which means William is likely to miss the final match itself he replied he was 'trying to see what I can do' about the situation.
William went on to speak about his relationship with his brother, emphasising the importance of men speaking openly to one another about their emotions.
Prince William with Rio Ferdinand and Roman Kemp during a visit to meet staff, volunteers, and supporters of 'Campaign Against Living Miserably' (CALM). Photo / Getty Images
"Our relationship is closer than it's been because of the situation we've been through," he said.
"Losing our mother at a young age it's helped us travel through that difficult patch together. You're like-minded. You go through similar things, it's a bond and it's something you know you've tackled together and come out better for it.
"That's the thing about being a best mate, inevitable one of you is sometimes on an up while the other is on a down.
"You're always there for each other and repaying that favour."
Of his own approach to discussing his feelings, following his mother's death, the Duke continued: "Personally I didn't want to be a burden. So I knew that if I trapped this inside and it got worse, and inevitably I would get worse in the future and I'd be a burden to my friends and family.
"I didn't want that for my life. I didn't want the traumatic moment that happened to me to then affect my life for the rest of my life and I knew my mother wouldn't want that for me either.
"So I actively went around dealing with it. Talking about it."
Arguing men can be the worst for opening up, he added: "We've got to break that down where it's ok to talk. Sons, fathers, it's ok to have that chat.
"Someone's got to be the brave one and take the first step. Say I'm putting it out there: that upset me, or that pissed me off. You've got to take that initial step to bring that conversation to a head."
CALM is one of the key charity partners of Heads Together, the campaign led by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.
Kate, William, Meghan and Harry are rumored to all get long well. Photo / Getty Images
The charity is particularly focused on services for men in crisis or distress, in an age where suicide is the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45 in the UK.
William has previously spoken of being called to a suicide on his first shift as an air ambulance pilot, and how it has informed his charity work since.
Their long-term campaigning is directed at bringing about a culture change to "redefine and open up masculinity, so that over time fewer men will need support at crisis point".
CALM recently launched the "Best Man Project" to promote the idea that men do not have to wait until a wedding to prove they are a great friend, encouraging them to be proactive in looking out for their mental health.
"Being a best man is often a shining example of what it means to be a great mate.
"From the moment they're asked, many men display exemplary behaviour – from planning the stag do, to carrying the rings and engineering the laughs while reminiscing to a room full of people.
"At CALM, we're of the belief that you don't need a wedding to be a best man. In fact you can be a best man all though your life."
