KATE Middleton today acted as a peacemaker between Prince Harry and William as they shared a private chat while walking away from Prince Philip’s emotional funeral.
The tender reunion after more than a year apart, came after they stood apart to walk behind their grandfather’s coffin, and were sat separately in the chapel.
Read our Prince Philip funeral live blog for the latest updates
Harry was seen talking with William and the Duchess of Cambridge as the group left the moving funeral.
William has previously called his wife the “peacemaker” between the brothers – and today Kate stepped back to allow the pair to speak.
It appears the brothers stuck to their word to put their differences aside after a turbulent year to focus on mourning the Duke of Edinburgh.
After months of distance sparked by Harry’s move to the US and an explosive Oprah interview, the brothers came together after the poignant service.
The decision for the family to walk back to the castle and forgo the state cars waiting for them is thought to have been made on the spur of the moment.
The brothers walked together for several minutes, moments after watching their grandfather’s coffin lowered into the vault in emotional scenes at St George’s Chapel.
It comes as…
- A sombre Queen sat alone on the “saddest and most difficult day” as she bid farewell to husband prince Philip
- Prince Harry and William shared a private chat as they left the funeral
- The brothers sat facing each other during the service at St George’s Chapel
- Meghan Markle left a handwritten note to Prince Philip
- The Duchess of Sussex watched the funeral from the US after not being able to fly to the UK for the service
- Prince Charles fought back tears at the emotional funeral
- Kate Middleton gave a touching nod to Diana and the Queen by wearing a pearl choker
- The Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault
After filing out of the service, they bowed to the Queen as she was driven away in her Bentley, before Harry and Kate struck up a conversation.
As the mourners left the chapel, William was then seen hanging back to let Harry and Kate catch up to him.
The princes strode side by side, with Kate on Harry’s right – with all three talking to each other.
Harry and William then walked slightly ahead of the Duchess and looked deep in conversation, glancing at each other while they chatted.
Today marked the first time Prince Harry has been seen in the UK since his bombshell interview alongside Meghan Markle.
The pair’s claims about royal life strained his already fraught relationship with Prince William further.
But after he rushed over to the UK following Philip’s death, Harry joined the 29 other mourners chosen to attend the stripped back service at 3pm.
He has spent the past week isolating at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor grounds, after flying in from LA last Sunday.
At the start of the funeral the brothers walked stoically behind the coffin, with their cousin Peter Phillips separating them.
Peter hung back to allow the pair to walk slightly ahead with bowed heads.
FAMILY’S FAREWELL
Harry then stood behind William as the group halted in the chapel while the coffin was gently put down over the vault.
Prince William, Kate Middleton and Prince Charles were earlier pictured arriving for the funeral.
Kate was dressed all in black with a netted veil covering her face mask.
She also wore a stunning pearl necklace belonging to the Queen, and drop earrings.
William looked sombre in a black suit and black tie, teamed with a face mask.
At 2.45pm, the Band of the Grenadier Guards, followed by the Major General commanding the Household Division, lead the procession.
Philip’s children, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Prince Charles formed one group.
Prince William and Harry walked behind them, separated during the eight-minute procession by their cousin Peter at the request of the Queen.
The once-close pair have not been seen together at a public engagement since March last year as tensions bubbled over.
But ahead of the funeral the pair say they want the day to be about Philip, rather than their dispute.
One insider said: “To be fair, both William and Harry have made clear that they wish to focus on mourning their grandfather and do not want anything to get in the way of that.
“But it has made everyone doubly nervous about saying anything that could be remotely construed of being critical of the other side. It’s been a minefield.”
Buckingham Palace confirmed the final details of Philip’s funeral earlier this week, but said they would not be “drawn into perceptions and drama”.
A spokesman added: “The arrangements have been agreed and represent Her Majesty’s wishes.
“All of the arrangements have been signed off by Her Majesty.
“All the arrangements are being done to meet with the Duke’s wishes and Her Majesty making the final decision.”
