They both grieve for a beloved grandmother.
But Princes William and Harry could not have been further apart yesterday, on the third anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death.
Despite at times being just seven miles – less than 15 minutes’ drive – away from each other on UK soil at last, the estranged brothers did not meet.
Indeed, they paid almost simultaneous, yet very much solo, tributes to the late monarch, who passed away at Balmoral Castle on September 8, 2022.
Harry – who is on a rare four-day visit to his country of birth – headed straight from Heathrow Airport to privately lay a wreath on the late Queen’s grave at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Meanwhile, William, accompanied by the Princess of Wales, was on an official visit to the Women’s Institute at nearby Sunningdale – an iconic British organisation proudly supported by his grandmother for 80 years.
While it is a coincidence that Harry’s trip to the UK, his longest for three years, began on such a poignant anniversary for the Royal Family, the visit has only served to emphasise the ongoing gulf between the brothers.
William, understandably in the eyes of many, has no intention – as it stands – of building bridges with his younger brother after years of deeply personal and, at times, inexplicably vicious attacks.
The King – who spent the anniversary of his accession quietly in Scotland with his wife, Queen Camilla – remains equally hurt and wary.
Buckingham Palace refused to confirm whether he will met Harry this week for the first time in more than 18 months.
Harry, who remains fifth in line to the throne, landed on a scheduled flight from his adopted home of California at Heathrow at around 10am yesterday, accompanied by two private US bodyguards. He was met at the airport’s VIP Windsor Suite, normally used by working royalty, by another bodyguard in an unmarked car.
The vehicle left at 11.15am and whisked the prince to Windsor Castle, around ten to 15 minutes’ drive away, where he was taken to his grandmother’s grave, situated in the private King George VI Memorial Chapel.
Onlookers said they believe the chapel was closed to the public for around 20 minutes to allow Harry, 40, to make his visit in private, suggesting special permission had been sought, and given, for the visit. He departed at 11.53am.
In light of his defeat in the UK courts over the withdrawal of his round-the-clock security after he quit as a working royal, Harry is accompanied by a private team. Scotland Yard are understood to be aware of Harry’s visit and to be liaising with his security.
His decision to take His Majesty’s Home Office to court over the loss of his taxpayer-funded security detail following his departure from the UK has been one of the reasons cited for his estrangement from his father.
Harry has long maintained that his own life, as well as the lives of his family, are at risk in this country without it. Indeed, he insists it is still too dangerous for him to bring his wife and children here, although he is willing to ‘take that risk’ personally.
The Home Office and the Met say they are willing to offer the king’s son ‘bespoke’ protection on a case-by-case basis, if given advance notice.
Earlier this year Harry – who was left with an estimated £1million legal bill, as well as running up costs to British taxpayers of more than £650,000 – claimed his court defeat was an ‘establishment stitch-up’.
The Prince and Princess of Wales yesterday went to Sunningdale, a 15-minute drive from their Adelaide Cottage home on the Great Windsor Estate, where they joined the ladies of the local Women’s Institute, an organisation of which the late Queen was a member for 80 years.
Intriguingly, William had intended to attend on his own, until it was revealed at the last minute that his wife, chic in a stunning Alessandra Rich grey tartan dress with matching heels, had decided to join him.
The couple were greeted with undisguised delight. Over tea and cakes – and a lot of laughter – they chatted with members, with William admitting he couldn’t believe it was three years since his grandmother’s death. Acknowledging his proximity to the racecourse which hosts Royal Ascot each year, he said: ‘I think she would have loved a few more wins. She was very upset that she couldn’t win a few more times.’
He also spoke about his young family. Asked by WI member Nina Derrick whether his youngest, Prince Louis, was ‘a bit of a handful’, the prince defended the royal livewire, saying: ‘He’s a character but he’s a very good boy. He likes to wind his brother and sister up.’
When it was pointed out that George appeared to be the sensible one, the prince replied: ‘When George is behind closed doors it’s completely different. George just knows how to behave.’
The couple appeared to be enjoying their visit so much that it overran by 25 minutes, although some noted the delay also ensured that Harry had been safely chaperoned out of Windsor two minutes before they left.
With the Waleses back at Adelaide Cottage, it was Harry who was in the spotlight again later in the day – at the WellChild Awards in London.
It is a charity he has supported for 17 years. He arrived at the Royal Lancaster hotel 15 minutes later than his expected arrival time of 4pm.
He opened his own car door and smiled broadly at waiting media. Inside he met and played with youngsters suffering from life-limiting conditions before presenting an award and making a speech.
It is one of several charity events for the prince in the coming days. Sources close to him say he wants to ‘focus on the positive, no courtrooms, and just do the stuff he loves’ as part of a concerted effort to reset his relationships not just with the Royal Family but also with the British public.
