Reports that the brothers’ relationship had grown frosty in the years since Harry met and married Markle had been circulating for years, but few knew the extent of the rift until the Oprah interview aired last month. Among the accusations made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was that Prince William’s wife, Kate Middleton, had made Meghan Markle cry in the lead-up to her 2018 wedding (and then allowed the press to recast the story with Markle as the villain); that Kensington Palace had refused to get Markle psychological help when she was suicidally depressed because of fears of bad publicity; and most disturbingly, that concerns were raised over “how dark” Meghan and Harry’s son Archie’s skin would be.
After today, this seems unlikely. During the funeral procession, Harry and William were physically separated by their cousin Peter Phillips. During the service itself, the brothers sat on opposite sides of the church. The separation of seating was partly due to Covid-19 restrictions that saw members of individual households cluster together. But so far as symbolism goes, it was a striking image to see Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Charles, Camilla Parker-Bowles, Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, and their two husbands, sit on one side of the room, with Prince Harry and Prince Andrew among the few recognizable faces on the other side. In the royal family, there are very few coincidences.
WINDSOR, ENGLAND - APRIL 17: The Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke of Cambridge and Earl of Wessex attend the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on April 17, 2021 in Windsor, England. Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark was born 10 June 1921, in Greece. He served in the British Royal Navy and fought in WWII. He married the then Princess Elizabeth on 20 November 1947 and was created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich by King VI. He served as Prince Consort to Queen Elizabeth II until his death on April 9 2021, months short of his 100th birthday. His funeral takes place today at Windsor Castle with only 30 guests invited due to Coronavirus pandemic restrictions. (Photo by Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
WINDSOR, ENGLAND - APRIL 17: The Duke of Sussex (R) bows his head during the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on April 17, 2021 in Windsor, England. Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark was born 10 June 1921, in Greece. He served in the British Royal Navy and fought in WWII. He married the then Princess Elizabeth on 20 November 1947 and was created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich by King VI. He served as Prince Consort to Queen Elizabeth II until his death on April 9 2021, months short of his 100th birthday. His funeral takes place today at Windsor Castle with only 30 guests invited due to Coronavirus pandemic restrictions. (Photo by Jonathan Brady - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
WINDSOR, ENGLAND - APRIL 17: (L-R) Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Peter Phillips, Earl of Snowdon David Armstrong-Jones, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Vice-Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence during the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on April 17, 2021 in Windsor, England. Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark was born 10 June 1921, in Greece. He served in the British Royal Navy and fought in WWII. He married the then Princess Elizabeth on 20 November 1947 and was created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich by King VI. He served as Prince Consort to Queen Elizabeth II until his death on April 9 2021, months short of his 100th birthday. His funeral takes place today at Windsor Castle with only 30 guests invited due to Coronavirus pandemic restrictions. (Photo by Samir Hussein - Pool/Wireimage)
WINDSOR, ENGLAND - APRIL 17: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Peter Phillips and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex follow Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh's coffin during the Ceremonial Procession during the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle on April 17, 2021 in Windsor, England. Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark was born 10 June 1921, in Greece. He served in the British Royal Navy and fought in WWII. He married the then Princess Elizabeth on 20 November 1947 and was created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich by King VI. He served as Prince Consort to Queen Elizabeth II until his death on April 9 2021, months short of his 100th birthday. His funeral takes place today at Windsor Castle with only 30 guests invited due to Coronavirus pandemic restrictions. (Photo by Adrian Dennis/WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Much like the Sussexes’ visibly frosty reception at Commonwealth Day celebrations last year—their last official outing as full-time working royals—the visible distance between the two brothers will do little to quell rumors that their falling out is far from over. In footage taken after the funeral service, Harry, Kate, and William—once a much-loved and close-knit trio—are filmed walking together. And while they exchange a few words, you don’t need to be a body language expert to pick up on the palpable tension.
Here’s hoping that things can improve for the brothers, whose fraternal bond captured the heart of the public following the tragic death of their mother, Princess Diana, in 1997.
