PRINCE Philip’s death will mark the “first step forward” for Harry and William in their strained relationship, Harry’s biographer has claimed.
Royal commentator Omid Scobie said the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral could help the brother’s unite, as “simply being in the same room” will help them talk.
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Speaking on Good Morning Britain, Scobie said the Royal Family is “putting differences aside” as it rallies around the Queen in the wake of Philip’s death.
“If there’s anything beautiful about this week, it is seeing a family unified in a way we haven’t seen in so many years,” he said.
Asked whether Philip’s funeral would help the brother’s reconcile their relationship, the Finding Freedom author added: “It’s always the weddings and the funerals that bring everyone together.
“I think that while everyone’s focus is really on remembering Philip’s life – and of course supporting the Queen in this very difficult moment – I think just simply being in the same room as each other, being in each other’s presence, is enough to count as those first steps forward in perhaps some progress further down the line.
“I think as the days continue the focus will remain very much on the Queen and Philip’s life, but I think this will certainly, at the very least, perhaps open the door to conversations later on.”
It comes after the brothers shared contrasting tributes to their “grandpa” the Duke of Edinburgh yesterday.
William, 38, spoke movingly of Prince Philip’s service to Queen and country and the memories his children will have of their great-grandpa.
While Harry, 36, hailed the Duke who died aged 99 on Friday, as “master of the barbecue” and “legend of banter”.
Scobie said the messages showed their “different personalities” but overall were a “balanced overview of their relationship with their grandfather”.
Harry returned to the UK for Prince Philip’s funeral over the weekend, where he will isolate until the service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, on Saturday.
It is the first time Harry has been in the UK since last March — and will be the first time he and William have seen each other since his and Meghan’s explosive Oprah interview.
During Meghan and Harry’s Oprah chat, the Duke of Sussex claimed William and their father, Prince Charles, were “trapped” by their royal responsibilities.
He also said his relationship with his brother was one of “space” and hoped “time heals all things”.
And although Harry and Wills have reportedly spoken over the phone since – talks were said to be “unproductive”.
Meghan, 39, who is heavily pregnant, made “every effort” to travel back with Harry yesterday but didn’t receive medical clearance from her physician, a Senior Palace Official and Buckingham Palace spokesman said.
And speaking of the outcome yesterday, ITV’s Chris Ship suggested Harry’s solo visit to the UK could give him and his brother space to finally talk.
The royal editor told Good Morning Britain: “I wonder whether being on his own with his family will give Harry those moments to talk and to reflect.
“They’ve had some phone conversations as we know thanks to Gayle King, the US TV anchor, but we will have to see whether they can do that and I think funerals can sometimes do that.”
The Duke of Sussex was seen getting off a British Airways flight from Los Angeles that arrived at Heathrow at 1.15pm.
Harry will now have to quarantine for ten days — though he can leave it after five days if he provides a negative test under the Government’s approved Test to Release scheme.
He will be allowed to attend Philip’s funeral regardless though, because guidelines state those coming in from abroad can leave isolation “on compassionate grounds”.
