WILLIAM and Harry were “at each other’s throats” at Prince Philip’s funeral the second they were out of sight of the press, according to new bombshell claims.
Robert Lacey – the author of explosive book Battle of Brothers, which looks into the feud between the pair – says a row broke out as soon as they stepped inside Windsor Castle.
– Read our Meghan and Harry live blog for the latest updates
Millions of royal fans around the world had hoped for the brothers to reconcile after photographers captured images of them chatting together after the service in April.
It was understood Charles had sent away the funeral cars to allow his sons the chance to talk face-to-face for the first time since Harry’s move to LA.
But Mr Lacey said efforts to encourage the men to make their peace were to no avail – and friends “have been despairing over the searing animosity – the sheer uncompromising, bloody-minded anger – between the two.”
It comes as:
- The Queen was spotted driving towards Frogmore Cottage after her grandson touched down at Heathrow
- A royal expert claims Meghan and Harry ‘want money for doing very little in return’
- Harry and William have been forced to slash the guest list for the unveiling of a new statue to commemorate their mother
- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been slammed by Dumbarton locals – after rejecting it for Archie over the word ‘dumb’
- And the couple say they weren’t being misleading when they told Oprah they’d been ‘cut off’ by the Royal Family after Megxit
Writing for the Daily Mail, the author said the brothers’ friends hoped the funeral could be “the chance for some healing to develop”.
“Their friends’ gentle nudges seemed to have had some effect that solemn Saturday afternoon as the two princes walked out of St George’s Chapel to cross the courtyard side by side — subtly brought together by Kate, who then left the pair to the brotherly exchange of words seen on camera,” he said.
“Some inching towards reconciliation seemed in progress, their watching friends dared to dream — as did the whole world.
“But those hopes were dashed within minutes of the siblings getting inside the castle and beyond camera vision.
“They started quarrelling again.”
One pal reportedly told the writer: “There they were, at each other’s throats as fiercely as ever.
“The rage and anger between those two has grown so incredibly deep. Too many harsh and wounding things have been said.”
After the sad service at Windsor, it was reported that the brothers had sat down together with their father to speak – and try to resolve their differences.
But Mr Lacey said: “There was no reconciliation… The conflict between Diana’s two bitterly-divided sons does not seem likely to end any time soon.”
However, both friends and family long for William and Harry to put their differences behind them – while it’s claimed Palace officials are working on a “peace plan”
Meanwhile, the author claims William calls Meghan “that bloody woman” because of the alleged way she treated royal staff – while Harry’s friends admit she “can be a 500 per cent nightmare”.
Brewing tensions between the brothers reportedly came to a head when Jason Knauf, who worked in communications for both the Cambridges and the Sussexes, submitted an official email in October 2018 alleging Meghan had bullied staff.
Meghan fiercely denies the claims – and a spokesperson for her and Harry said she was the victim of a calculated smear campaign.
The Duke of Sussex is back in the UK today ahead of the unveiling for a statue dedicated to his late mother.
It will be the first time he and William have seen each other in person since April.
The ceremony is expected to be a largely private affair – and experts say he will return home to LA soon after the event on July 1.
On the Royal Rota podcast, ITV royal editor Chris Ship said: “I’d imagine he’d be spending as little time here as he possibly can before he goes back to the Californian sunshine.”
