Prince William ‘ignored Prince Harry’s calls’ before shock reunion at uncle’s funeral

Prince William and Prince Harry had an unexpected reunion this week, coming together for the funeral of their late uncle, Lord Robert Fellowes. The brothers, who have been publicly feuding for some time, attended the service at St Mary’s Church in Snettisham, Norfolk. This marked the first time they were seen at the same event since their father, King Charles’ coronation in May last year. However, even during that event, they were not seen sitting together or interacting.

Reports suggest that Prince William and Prince Harry have had minimal communication since the funeral of their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, nearly two years ago. It was recently reported by PEOPLE magazine that Harry’s attempts to reach out to William through various messages and calls have gone unanswered. Despite this ongoing tension, insiders believe that while the relationship is strained, it is not beyond repair.

At the funeral service for Lord Robert Fellowes, both princes arrived discreetly and kept their distance from each other. According to The Sun, they quietly entered and exited the church, maintaining a low profile. During the service, they sat apart, a visual representation of their continued estrangement. Observers noted that they did not speak to one another and maintained a noticeable distance throughout the event.

Royal biographer Ingrid Seward commented that while Harry remains close to Lord Fellowes’ widow, Jane, and her sister Sarah, the thought of confronting his estranged brother at such a somber event might have been more challenging for William than for Harry. Seward emphasized that a funeral is neither the time nor the place for resolving such deep-seated family issues or making amends.

The last time the two brothers were publicly seen together was during a walkabout in Windsor with their wives shortly after the death of their grandmother in September 2022. Since then, Harry has publicly criticized his royal relatives, particularly William, through his Netflix series and his memoir, “Spare.” In the memoir, Harry even accused William of physical aggression during an argument over Meghan Markle.

There have been reports that William remains unwilling to forgive Harry, particularly regarding the comments made about his wife, Kate Middleton, in “Spare.” A close friend of William recently told The Sunday Times that the brothers are estranged, and conversations about Harry are rare within William’s circles. It was also noted that William’s primary focus this year has been on his immediate family and his role as a future king.

Harry’s visit to the UK for the funeral comes just days before the 27th anniversary of the death of his and William’s mother, Princess Diana. Diana tragically passed away in a car accident in Paris on August 31, 1997, at the age of 36. This timing likely added an emotional layer to the already challenging reunion for both brothers.

Lord Robert Fellowes, who passed away last month at 82, was married to Diana’s older sister, Jane, for over 45 years. The couple had three children, who are cousins to William and Harry. Additionally, Laura, one of Lord Fellowes’ children, is the godmother to Princess Charlotte, William and Kate’s only daughter. Lord Fellowes also served as a private secretary to Queen Elizabeth II during the 1990s, a role that often put him at the center of royal family dynamics, especially during the turbulent period of Charles and Diana’s marriage breakdown and other royal crises of that era.

Despite the ongoing rift between William and Harry, Kensington Palace has declined to comment on their relationship or the events at the funeral. This gathering, marked by distance and silence, underscores the enduring tension between the once-close brothers. The funeral of Lord Fellowes, who was both a family member and a figure closely tied to the royal household, was a somber occasion overshadowed by the unresolved issues between Prince William and Prince Harry.