Yesterday, we reported that Prince William had responded to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s explosive tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey by saying, “We are very much not a racist family. I haven’t spoken to [Harry] yet, but I will.”

Now, royal expert Katie Nicholl is speaking out to reveal why exactly his response was so surprising.

Prince William says he hasn’t spoken to his brother yet but will do and they are “very much not a racist family”. pic.twitter.com/3j0AulDDOB

— Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) March 11, 2021

Nicholl explained to Entertainment Tonight that while what William said is surprising, it’s how he said it that is downright shocking. She pointed out that it’s incredibly rare that a royal ever respond to a reporter in such a casual manner, and that it’s actually seen as disrespectful for the press to shout questions at royals in this way.

In the wake of Meghan and Harry’s interview, however, this kind of exchange has been happening more often.

“It was very unusual for Prince William to answer. I mean, Prince Charles was on an engagement earlier this week, and a member of the press called out …[and] Prince Charles didn’t comment — [but] William did,” Nicholl said. “He answered not once, but twice. I think that’s very telling of his mood at the moment.”

Nicholl went on to say that William is known for being “a consummate professional when it comes to being on engagements.”

“He’s done this for a very long time and I think he was probably very prepared for a question to be asked,” she added. “His answer was pretty to the point, it was pretty swift, it was very much off-the-cuff.”

As a longtime royal expert, Nicholl still can’t get over how casual William was with his response.

“The fact that he answered two questions was really very, very unusual. I think highly significant,” Nicholl said, adding that sources close to William have told her that he is “beyond livid over [Meghan and Harry’s] interview.”

“I think he wanted the chance to say something,” she noted.

As for why William made the decision to speak out, Nicholl said, “…He feels that he has to defend his family, and that’s what he did today.”

With both William and Harry admitting that they have not spoken recently, Nicholl does not see a brotherly reconciliation happening anytime soon.

“I think everyone hopes that the brothers will be able to heal this rift, clearly it does run deep. I think it speaks volumes that William hasn’t yet picked up the phone to call his brother. I think that he’s clearly needed some cooling off time,” she explained. “…I think the feeling though is that time is a healer. That’s something that Harry himself said.”

It is believed that the brothers will reunite on July 1, at the unveiling of Princess Diana’s statue on July 1 in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace.

“[Diana] said she always wanted her boys to be close, and I think people saw an unbreakable bond between those boys,” Nicholl said. “Things have come to blows, the relationship is clearly under a lot of strain, but hopefully behind closed doors that can begin to heal.”