Prince Harry and Prince William keep their distance at Queen’s funeral
Prince William and Prince Harry did not interact at the funeral of their beloved grandmother Queen Elizabeth II.
The estranged brothers walked alongside each other as they made their way from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey for the service on Monday morning, but were not seen speaking. Once inside, they kept their distance and sat separately with their respective families.
William and Harry also marched next to each other for the ensuing procession to Wellington Arch, but departed in separate cars.
At the committal service at Windsor Castle, Harry, 38, was separated from William, 40, by the Prince of Wales’ wife, Kate Middleton, and their kids Prince George, 9, and Princess Charlotte, 7.
Harry and wife Meghan Markle also arrived to and left the committal service in a separate vehicle from William, Kate and their children.
The icy moments come on the heels of a week of détente between the brothers, who seemed to have put their differences aside to come together in honor of the Queen.
The siblings have had a turbulent relationship since Harry and Markle, 41, quit their royal duties in 2020 and moved to California.
A breakdown in their bond was hinted at in 2019 during an interview Harry gave while he was on a royal tour in Africa, where he revealed that he and William were already “on different paths.”
The rift exploded in 2021 when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex sat down with Oprah Winfrey for a bombshell interview in which Harry claimed that his brother and father, King Charles III, were trapped in their roles.
“It’s been really hard,” Harry explained. “I am part of the system with them, I always have been, but I guess — and I’m very aware of this — my brother can’t leave that system, but I have.”
Markle also disputed the long-standing rumor that she made Middleton, 40, cry in the days leading up to her 2018 wedding, claiming that “the reverse happened.”
The “Suits” alum said it was “shocking” that months later, British tabloids reported the “reverse” of what actually happened.
Markle refused to divulge any details about their tiff except to acknowledge it was over her wedding’s flower-girl dresses “and it made me cry, and it really hurt my feelings.”
“There wasn’t a confrontation,” she said, adding, “I don’t think it’s fair to her to get into the details because she apologized, and I’ve forgiven her.”
Days before the tell-all interview reports leaked that Markle had been accused of bullying at least two palace aides during her short tenure as a working British royal.
Markle vehemently denied the charges and a spokesperson said the duchess was “saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself.”
Follow Page Six’s coverage of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral:
- Harry and Meghan snubbed with seating arrangement at Queen’s funeral
- King Charles leaves touching note on Queen’s casket
- William and Harry ‘trying their best’ to get along while mourning Queen
- Kate Middleton: Prince Louis, 4, is struggling to understand Queen’s death
The brothers’ relationship seemed to have thawed slightly since their grandmother’s passing on Sept. 8.
The two, joined by their wives, made a surprise appearance together when they were photographed greeting mourners and viewing floral tributes laid outside Windsor Castle in honor of the late monarch.
The invitation was extended by Prince William.
“We are all very grateful — both sides putting all things aside for the Queen,” a royal source told Page Six exclusively.
Last week, the brothers broke bread together. Before the death of the Queen, the brothers and their wives had not publicly gathered since Commonwealth Day in March 2020.
The two sat down for dinner together, along with other royal family members, after receiving Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin Tuesday evening. They were also joined by their wives for the intimate sit-down.
Both brothers issued heartfelt statements mourning the loss of their beloved grandmother.