The stalwart older brother and father-of-three feels like a ‘spare himself’, a royal expert claims.

Prince William could be feeling Harry is taking the limelight, an expert claims (Image: Getty )

Prince William has been admirably stoic in his duty to his country as both his father and wife have bravely battled cancer, but with his younger brother’s recent successful foreign trip he could feel he is being “overshadowed”, a royal expert has claimed.

The 41-year-old heir to the throne has faced strain in recent months, but his younger brother the Duke of Sussex has just returned from a blockbuster overseas royal-like trip to Nigeria, while his wife Meghan has launched a lifestyle brand.

The Sussexes were also reportedly recently seen going for dinner near their home in California with Hollywood executives to celebrate their wedding anniversary.

The Africa trip for Prince Harry received a lot of attention and royal author Tom Quinn suggested William now “sees his role diminished”.

Mr Quinn told the Mirror: “It’s almost and if Harry is using his freedom, his outcast status, as a means to become a more prominent royal than he ever could have when he was just the spare.

The Sussexes recently enjoyed a highly successful trip to Nigeria (Image: Getty )

“Harry and Meghan have realised they don’t need the senior Royals’ permission to organise successful overseas trips where they behave as if they are the real thing.”

Despite having given up their duties as working royals, duties which Prince William still carries out, Prince Harry and Meghan were played the British national anthem during their visit to the West African nation, giving a distinct royal feel to the occasion.

Prince Harry was also invited to inspect Nigerian troops, despite no longer holding any military titles himself.

Mr Quinn continued: “They know they will be welcomed and feted as Royals, even if they are not officially royals at all.

Prince William and Harry have had a strained relationship in recent years (Image: Getty )

“They have realised that the leaders of many countries don’t care who is an official royal and who isn’t, they are just happy to see a young, glamorous couple who have royal titles and fit the bill.

“And after what they see as their wildly successful tour of Nigeria, they are convinced they are on a roll.

“Back in Britain and powerless to compete or to prevent his brother taking centre stage, William sees his role diminished. And he hates it.”

“He may even have started to feel a bit like a spare himself or at least that for the first time in his life he is being overshadowed by his brother and sister-in-law.”

Harry has previously referred to himself as the “spare” and revealed in his debut memoir he was first given the jocular nickname by his father, King Charles.

Charles is said to have first used the term when the late Princess Diana gave birth to Harry. He’s said to have responded: “Wonderful! Now you’ve given me an heir and a spare – my work is done.”