BOND OF BROTHERS
Royal feud put on hold during tearful procession
REUNITED royals William and Harry walked side-by-side behind the Queen’s coffin to the spot where she will lie in state.
The image of the two brothers was reminiscent of how William and Harry, aged 15 and 12, walked behind the coffin of their mum Princess Diana in 1997.
The brothers battled to keep their emotions in check on a poignant 38-minute march with their dad King Charles III that left thousands of mourners lining the route weeping openly.
Their wives travelled behind in separate cars — Meghan accompanying the Countess of Wessex and Kate with Camilla the Queen Consort — for the journey to Westminster Hall.
During the service inside the two couples — once dubbed “the Fab Four” — stood in formation facing the coffin on its purple-covered catafalque with a tall yellow flickering candle at each corner.
Harry was directly behind William and Meghan behind Kate in a rare show of togetherness since the Sussex’s decision to quit the monarchy and move to the US two years ago.
Charles, William and Anne saluted the coffin.
Harry and Andrew — barred from wearing military uniform — solemnly bowed their heads.
The family stood silently as the Archbishop of Canterbury led the 20-minute service which the late monarch had put together with the Church of England before her death aged 96 a week ago.
Cries of “God save the King” rang out as Charles and Camilla left the hall to the chimes of Big Ben.
At one point Harry sank his head into his hands.
Hands
The royal couples left the building side-by-side with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex holding hands and the Princess of Wales reassuringly rubbing her husband’s arm.
Hundreds of thousands who lined the route to watch the procession had earlier stood in silence as the Queen’s coffin emerged from the palace at 2.22pm on a horse-drawn gun carriage.
The casket was draped with the Royal Standard and adorned with the glittering Imperial State Crown on a purple velvet cushion and a wreath of white flowers from the gardens of Windsor and Balmoral.