The Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex both attended their uncle’s funeral but attendees said the brothers appeared to be “keeping their distance”.
Prince William and Prince Harry discreetly attended the funeral of Lord Robert Fellowes, who was married to Princess Diana’s sister Jane.
It was previously reported that Harry would have to miss his uncle’s funeral due to “security issues”.
It is reported to be the first time they have been in the same room together this year amid their bitter ongoing rift.The brothers were said to have sat apart at the back of the church in Snettisham, Norfolk, during the funeral service.
A source told the Sun: “I didn’t know they were there. They arrived very discreetly.”
Another nearby resident added: “William and Harry were both there but we never saw them speak to each other and they were keeping their distance.”
The two brothers have barely spoken to each other since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex left the UK for the US and abandoned royal duties, and the explosive interview Prince Harry and Meghan gave to Oprah Winfrey.
The rift was exacerbated by the publication of Harry's memoir Spare in January last year that levelled further accusations against his family. Harry's publishers announced this week that they are finally set to bring out the paperback edition of the memoir.Lord Robert Fellowes, who was private secretary to Queen Elizabeth II during the 1990s and was by her side dealing with problems including the fire at Windsor Castle and the death of Diana, died aged 82 on July 29.
Harry’s security arrangements mean he has to inform the authorities about any travel plans back to the UK 28 days in advance, making it very difficult for him to attend events such as funerals at short notice.
The Prince and his wife Meghan stepped down from the working monarchy in 2020 and Harry said last month it was “still dangerous” for Meghan to return to the UK.
In the ITV documentary Tabloids On Trial, the Duke said: “All it takes is one lone actor, one person who reads this stuff to act on what they have read and whether it’s a knife or acid, whatever it is, and these are things that are of genuine concern for me.
“It’s one of the reasons why I won’t bring my wife back to this country.”
He lost a High Court challenge against the Home Office in February over a decision to change the level of his personal security when he visits the UK, but he has been given the green light to appeal.
During the case, the court was told Harry believes his children cannot “feel at home” in the UK if it is “not possible to keep them safe” there and that he faces a greater risk than his late mother, with “additional layers of racism and extremism”.
