Did the funeral of Britain’s Prince Philip usher in the reconciliation between Crown Prince William and his brother Harry? There has been wild speculation in the British press after the brothers walked side by side after the service and talked to each other. But especially about the subtle gestures that led to the first conversation in a long time, a lot of ink flows.
–
In the run-up to Prince Philip’s funeral last Saturday, there was already speculation in the British press about how Prince Harry’s return would unfold. More than a year after moving to the US with Meghan Markle – who is banned from flying due to her pregnancy and therefore was not there – he would inevitably come face to face with his brother, Crown Prince William.
Harry had returned from the US on April 12 and had gone into self-isolation ever since. That his presence was important to the British royal family is proven by the fact that for him the Queen broke with the tradition that men in military uniform would attend the funeral. That would have been painful for Harry, who had to give up his military titles upon his departure from the royal family.
Funeral procession
Before the funeral, it seemed that there would be no reconciliation yet. William and Harry stepped side by side in the funeral procession to church, but their cousin Peter Phillips acted as a buffer between the two. Cans were not exchanged then. The two stared straight ahead, as befits a funeral. Harry rubbed his hands uncomfortably and was visibly out of his own way, body language experts in the British media said. The brothers also sat separately in the church.
But when we left the church it happened anyway. Kate Middleton spoke to Harry as she walked from the church to the wagons that would drive them around. It was then that William and Harry stepped side by side. The Crown Prince on the left, his brother in the middle and Kate on the right. When she settled down to talk to another group of people, the brothers were left alone and continued talking. According to body language experts, there is little to be gleaned from the brief conversation between the two, of which we do not know what was said. But they do agree that the two took a more open attitude towards each other. And, say British royalty watchers: if there is a reconciliation between the two, the seed for it could well have been planted here. “Prince Philip would have been proud of Kate,” it read.
Hand gesture
By the way, the role of Kate Middleton was not limited to slouching to let the two talk. British newspapers say she had already brought the two brothers together before the funeral on Saturday morning to allow a first casual chat for the whole world to watch.
READ ALSO. She was not present at Prince Philip’s funeral, but Meghan Markle made herself heard anyway
Another subtle gesture was noticed by the British press. When the royals left the church after the funeral, Prince Charles very briefly but clearly signaled to the wagons parked near the entrance to move a little further. For example, there would have to be a short walk and the opportunity arose to facilitate the conversation between the brothers.
“Different paths”
In the much-discussed interview with Oprah Winfrey, Prince Harry had said at the beginning of March that relations between him and his brother William had been severely disrupted since his move and the announcement that he would part with the British royal family. Harry then put it like this: “We are on different paths.”
A new meeting between the two is coming up on July 1. Then the statue in honor of their mother Diana is inaugurated.
– .
