William, Harry put on united front for grandpa
LONDON — Brought together under the saddest of circumstances, Princes William and Harry put on a show of unity at their beloved grandfather's funeral.
Reconciled for the first time in over a year — and seen together in public for the first time since Harry and Meghan gave their bombshell interview to Oprah Winfrey — the estranged brothers chatted together following the afternoon ceremony at St George's Chapel.
Although they did not walk shoulder to shoulder in the procession behind Prince Philip's coffin, they made a point of seeking each other out after the service and walked back to Windsor Castle side by side.
Harry was initially seen speaking to Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, as they left the chapel and began walking, but then she appeared to hang back so he could talk to William for a few moments without her.
The Royal family had all been due to be conveyed back to the castle's state entrance in state vehicles but took the last-minute decision to walk instead, encouraged by the sunny blue skies overhead.
It is thought William and Harry also wanted to quell suggestions they are barely on speaking terms after Meghan told the U.S. TV host an unnamed royal queried Archie's skin tone and Harry claimed his father and brother were “trapped” in the monarchy during last month's prime time two-hour tell-all.
The siblings did not appear to make eye contact at any point during the eight-minute procession as they flanked their older cousin, Peter Phillips, 43.
William, 38, entered the 15th century church one place before Harry, 36, and they were seated opposite one another during the ceremony, with William next to his wife.
It had been hoped that the loss of their “dearest grandpa,” who both men say they loved deeply, would start the process of reconciliation — and Saturday's signs looked promising.
Before the event, sources on both sides said the princes were keen to put their differences aside in support of their grandmother and had spoken on the telephone since Harry arrived in London last weekend.
They have not been able to spend any time together since Philip died on April 9 because Harry has been quarantining at Frogmore Cottage, his former Windsor home, since he landed at Heathrow Airport on a flight from Los Angeles.
The last time the Cambridges and the Sussexes were seen in public together was March 9, 2020 when they attended a Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey.
Pregnant Meghan was advised against flying over for the Prince Philip's funeral by doctors but is said to have got up before sunrise to watch the televised ceremony from the home she shares with Harry in Montecito, Calif.