SOPHIE Wessex had a “lengthy chat” with Prince Harry after Philip’s funeral – insisting the two are “still family no matter what”.
Sophie, 56, and husband Prince Edward, 57, spoke of how they are “flattered” to be taking on a more prominent role in the monarchy.
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It comes following the departure of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to the USA and Prince Andrew stepped back from public life.
She also shared how her children Lady Louise Windsor, 17, and James, Viscount Severn, 13, “still keep expecting to see grandpa arrive in his green Land Rover”.
Sophie revealed how the Queen had been taking her mind off her grief by “keeping busy” following the death of Prince Philip back in April.
The Countess stressed that the Royal family now had to step up now that the Queen is on her own.
She said: “The job is not something you can walk away from, it just carries on relentlessly.”
The Countess told The Telegraph Magazine: “We’ve plodded along doing what we’re doing, hopefully doing it well. And then all of a sudden there’s a bit of a hiatus and things have changed a bit.
“Naturally, the media are looking for people to fill the so-called void.”
She added: “If people want to pay more attention to what we’re doing, then great.”
After Philip’s funeral in April, Harry was seen talking with William and the Duchess of Cambridge as the group left the service.
A royal source said at the time of the funeral: “It looked like a conciliatory move by William to wait for Harry and allow him to catch up and chat to him and Kate. That could be a significant moment.
“Harry appeared grateful for the opportunity, and Kate seemed to make a point of letting the brothers walk alone together, having briefly chatted to Harry as well.”
‘DOOMED TO FAIL’
Harry and William’s “peace talks” at their grandfather’s funeral were “doomed to fail” – because Harry had been plotting his new bombshell documentary the whole time, an expert claimed.
The Duke made a series of extraordinary new allegations in the programme The Me You Don’t See – including that father Charles left him to “suffer” amid “total neglect” for his mental health.
And commentator Phil Dampier says Harry would have been well aware that he’d be blasting his family in the documentary when he attended his grandfather’s funeral.
The Duke of Sussex “must have known” what he planned to say about the royals “probably many months” before the documentary was released, Mr Dampier said.
“It means any attempts there were after the funeral to have meaningful peace talks were pointless and doomed to failure,” he said.
“It’s making it extremely difficult for William and Charles to attempt to heal any kind of wounds.”
William, Harry and Kate were pictured walking together after the service, while it was understood Charles and Harry had also spoken privately.
Charles was also said to be “desperate for a reconciliation” – although William was reportedly deeply upset, even after meeting his brother face-to-face for the first time in a year.
But Mr Dampier said Harry’s claims would’ve cause further damage in the family.
“The royals will be dismayed and Charles and William will be tearing out what’s left of their hair,” he said.
