UNITED IN GRIEF BUT SO APART
WILLIAM AND HARRY WILL NOT WALK SIDE BY SIDE AT THE DUKE’S FUNERAL
GRIEVING princes William and Harry will not walk side by side behind their beloved grandfather’s coffin at his funeral tomorrow.
The brothers – said by Harry to be ‘on different paths’ since he stepped down from his duty as a senior royal – will instead be separated by their cousin Peter Phillips.
Neither will be in uniform as they walk with the Duke of Edinburgh’s children behind the Land Rover he adapted to carry his coffin from Windsor Castle. Facing her saddest day – mourning her husband of 73 years after his death last Friday at the age of 99 – the Queen was forced to defuse a row by ordering that formal morning coats and medals must be worn.
It spares Harry the embarrassment of being the only senior royal not in uniform after losing his military titles.
It also follows reports Prince Andrew had demanded to dress as an admiral – even though his promotion did not go
ahead because of the row over his links to US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The details emerged as Buckingham Palace revealed the guest list for the ceremony – and confirmed the Queen must sit alone because of Covid restrictions.
All 30 attendees in St George’s Chapel – nearly all family members and relatives – will wear face coverings and must social distance as they pay their respects.
Mourners will not be allowed to sing, so a reduced choir of four features in the service, which has been adapted from Prince Philip’s own plans. Royal Marines will be pall bearers and their buglers will sound Action Stations during the service to reflect Philip’s life-long association with the Royal Navy. The call is played as a warship goes into battle.
The Duke chose regalia on cushions at the altar, including UK and Commonwealth medals his RAF wings and Field Marshal’s baton.
Guests include all his children and grandchildren, their spouses, and children of the queen’s sister Princess Margaret. Philip’s ten great- grandchildren were thought too young. His German great-nephews Bernhard, Hereditary Prince of Baden, Donatus, Prince and Landgrave of Hesse, and cousin Prince Philipp of Hohenlohe-Langenburg will attend.
Also invited is the Countess Mountbatten of Burma – formerly Penelope ‘Penny’ Knatchbull – Philip’s carriage-driving partner and one of his closest friends.
The 67-year-old was taught carriage driving by Philip in 1994 and they were often pictured together at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, sometimes riding mini motorcycles around the course.
A Palace spokesman said despite Covid: ‘At its heart it is still a family event.’
The Palace last night played down a rift between William and Harry. A spokesman said they would not discuss ‘perceptions of drama’.
Both paid very different tributes to their grandfather this week – William praising his ‘ lifetime of service’, Harry dubbing him ‘master of the barbecue.’
The pair’s difficult relationship worsened in March when Harry and wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, aired allegations of royal racism in a US TV interview with Oprah Winfrey. Talks between the brothers afterwards were said to be ‘not productive’. Tearful Charles and his wife Camilla the Duchess of Cornwall yesterday made their first appearance together since his father died to see flowers and read tributes to him. The emotional prince at one point looked up at the sky in thought.
They were at Marlborough House, HQ of the Commonwealth, where flowers are moved each night from nearby Buckingham Palace to avoid attracting crowds.