The tensions between Princes William and Harry seem more intense than ever. This Wednesday, August 28, the two brothers met for the first time in a year at the funeral of their uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes. The ceremony, held at St. Mary’s Church in Snettisham, Norfolk, was a sober tribute to this former British courtier, who passed away on July 29 at the age of 82. Lord Fellowes, husband of Lady Jane Spencer, Princess Diana’s elder sister, had held the prestigious position of private secretary to Queen Elizabeth II from 1990 to 1999.
The presence of the two princes at this family event had been uncertain. This was mainly due to security concerns for Prince Harry, who now resides in California. Ultimately, both made the trip. However, despite the importance of the event, the reunion was marked by a palpable distance. Arriving discreetly at the church, William and Harry sat apart, without exchanging a word according to witnesses present.
This coldness between the two brothers is not new. Their relationship deteriorated as early as 2016. Prince William reportedly expressed doubts about the speed of the relationship between Harry and Meghan Markle. Tensions became public in 2020 when Harry and Meghan announced their withdrawal from royal duties, a significant episode in the recent history of the British monarchy.
Since then, opportunities for reconciliation have been rare and often marked by a lack of communication. In 2022, during Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, the two brothers had already shown signs of division, taking care not to appear together. This year, during the coronation of their father, King Charles III, observers noted their lack of contact. Indeed, this distance between them had already been noticed before.
The publication of Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, in January 2023, only worsened the situation. In this book, Harry paints an unflattering portrait of his elder brother, describing him as authoritarian and angry. These revelations, along with the accusations against the royal family in the documentary series Harry & Meghan released on Netflix in 2022, have deeply affected the relationship between the two princes.
The funeral of Lord Fellowes, which was supposed to bring the family together in a moment of reflection, did not manage to ease the tensions. The lack of dialogue between William and Harry leaves little hope for a near reconciliation. Their relationship seems more than ever frozen in a coldness that neither time nor family events can dissipate.