FIRST STEPS
Harry and William come together in shared grief
Warring Princes William and Harry took the first steps towards a reconciliation yesterday, as they came together to lay their beloved grandpa to rest.
The brothers called a truce ahead of Prince Philip’s funeral after years of hostility, emboldened by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s decision to quit royal life for a fresh start in California.
Royal sources insisted the princes were “united in grief ” and would respect the wishes of their grandmother the Queen to not let anything detract f rom commemorating Prince Philip.
Members of the family have been hopeful the brothers, whose relationship has been plagued by infighting as they set upon different paths in recent years, could be mended with some gentle mediation.
After having barely spoken for more than a year, it was the Duchess of Cambr idge, bi l led as a potentia l peacemaker in such troubled times, who appeared to have given them the space to reconnect once more.
Following the moving family-centred funeral service for the Duke of Edinburgh yesterday, the 30 mourners gathered at the side gate to bid farewell to the Queen as she made an emotional exit from St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Perhaps sensing an opportunity to break the ice, Harry seized his chance and positioned himself alongside his brother’s wife, who in times gone by he lovingly described as “like a “sister to me”.
After exchanging pleasantries and bidding Her Majesty farewell, the group set off on a walk towards the castle for a family reception.
Within a matter of paces, Harry found himself in the middle of William and Kate, a throwback to times where he played gooseberry to the couple when they lived together at Kensington Palace.
In a seemingly masterful move, or feasibly by complete chance, the future queen peeled off to speak to the Countess of Wessex leaving the brothers.
Body language analyst Adrianne Carter said: “Kate seemed to take the lead in chatting, but when the brothers started to walk together it was entirely natural with no sign of stress or discord in their companionship.
“There was no forced show and no sign of avoiding each other, which they could easily have done.
“In fact Wi l liam paused so Har r y could walk up the hill with them. It looks to me like grief has reunited them.”
It was the f irst time Prince Harry had come face to face with his family since his bombshell interview with wife Meghan and US chat show queen Oprah Winfrey.
The couple accused the family of racism and abandonment in the show that was broadcast to millions globally.
A royal source: “It’s no secret that tensions have been running incredibly high of late, not to mention the brothers have barely uttered a word to each other in many months.
“Perhaps with the Duke’s passing and their grandmother’s call for unity it could be the catalyst for a renewed relationship. Everyone is certainly hoping so.”
Royal sources confirmed there is “still an awful long way to go” after the TV allegations, which led the Queen to issue an unprecedented statement suggesting “recollections may vary” but vowing the issues would be rectified internally.
A source said: “It will take a long time to heal on all sides, but the initial signs are encouraging. The Queen has urged the family to come together to heal and help each other and the country in their work after an extraordinary year.”