The Duke of Sussex and Duke of Cambridge have issued a furious denial over a newspaper report speculating on causes of a rift between them, branding it “offensive and potentially harmful”.

A strongly worded statement by William and Harry’s senior spokespeople said: “Despite clear denials, a false story ran in a UK newspaper today speculating about the relationship between the Duke of Sussex and the Duke of Cambridge.

“For brothers who care so deeply about the issues surrounding mental health, the use of inflammatory language in this way is offensive and potentially harmful.”

The statement does not specify which report it refers to. But Monday’s Times cited a source claiming Harry and Meghan regarded themselves as having been pushed away by what they saw as a “bullying” attitude from the Duke of Cambridge.

The statement came as the the Queen hosted a crisis summit at Sandringham with Charles, William and Harry, to decide the future of the Sussexes.

It is unusual for palace aides to issue such vehement public denials about the personal feeling of the royals. But it is clear the royal family wishes to avoid a repeat of any narrative such as the so-called “War of the Waleses”, which accompanied the breakdown of Charles and Diana’s marriage.

The Times reported a source, said to be close to the couple, as saying that William was insufficiently welcoming to Meghan when she first started dating Harry. The claim was that the attitude resulted from the competitive nature of William’s relationship with his younger brother.

Timeline Prince Harry's relationship with Meghan Markle Show The pair meet in London through friends and begin a relationship. News breaks that the prince and Markle are dating. Kensington Palace confirms in an unprecedented statement that they are dating. The prince attacks the media over its “abuse and harassment” of his girlfriend.

Markle reportedly meets the Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte for the first time in London.

The engagement looks set when Markle graces the cover of US magazine Vanity Fair and speaks openly about Harry for the first time, revealing: “We’re two people who are really happy and in love.” Markle makes her first appearance at an official engagement attended by the prince when she attends the Invictus Games opening ceremony in Toronto, Canada – although the pair sit about 18 seats apart. It emerges that the prince has taken Markle to meet his grandmother, the Queen, whose permission they need to marry. They met over afternoon tea at Buckingham Palace. The prince’s aides are reported to have been told to start planning for a royal wedding, with senior members of the royal family asked to look at their diaries to shortlist a series of suitable weekends in 2018. Clarence House announces the engagement, and the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh say they are “delighted for the couple and wish them every happiness”.

The couple marry before a celebrity-studded congregation at St George's Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

The couple's first child, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, is born in London. They announce that they are to step back from life as 'senior' royals, triggering a row with Buckingham Palace. After a crisis meeting with the Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William at Sandringham, the Queen issues a statement saying the couple will have a 'transition period' before ending their royal duties. It is announced that Harry and Meghan will drop their HRH titles and repay £2.4m of taxpayers money used to refurbish Frogmore Cottage.

The last year has seen repeated reports that have hinted at a rift between the brothers. Harry then appeared to confirm the speculation when he told an ITV documentary in October that the brothers were on “different paths”.

The Queen, Charles, William and Harry are meeting face-to-face to thrash out a solution over the future of Harry and Meghan. Meghan, who is in Canada, was expected to join the discussion via conference call.

The couple announced in a bombshell statement on Wednesday their intention to “step back” from frontline royal duties, split their time between the UK and North America, work towards becoming “financially independent” , and retain Frogmore Cottage in Windsor as their official residence while in the UK.

It is the first time the senior royals will have met in person since the crisis broke, as the Queen has been in Norfolk, Charles in Scotland, William at Kensington Palace in London, and Harry at Windsor.

They will discuss a range of proposals drawn up by aides following consultations over how to accommodate “new progressive roles” for the couple.