In a compelling show of solidarity while grappling with grief, the late Queen's beloved grandchildren, William and Harry, put their ongoing feud aside when they reunited with their respective wives at Windsor castle on Saturday.
The crowds were elated to see the Fab Four back together, as they had waited a long while for the poignant moment - the Windsor walkabout was the couple's first public appearance since Commonwealth Day on 9 March, 2020.
For William and Harry, the last-minute joint appearance was the first time they had been seen together since they unveiled a new memorial in honour of their mother, Princess Diana, in July 2021.
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The poignant scene of two brothers, dressed in all black walking side by side to mourn their beloved grandmother, felt deeply reminiscent of the images of the young siblings grieving for their late mother Diana.
The Windsor walkabout proved to be a symbolic moment in the days since the Queen 's passing on Thursday afternoon, as it was the first time that Prince William and Harry had spoken in-person following an 11th hour 'olive branch' from the new heir to the throne, the Prince of Wales.
The Mirror's Royal Editor, Russel Myers, reports that the joint outing came after William extended an olive branch to his brother via text, inviting him to join on a public show of solidarity to honour the Queen.
The emotional walkabout was delayed by 45 minutes after the Prince of Wales contacted his brother last minute, urging the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to attend in an attempt to show harmony between both couples.
Royal experts have told The Mirror that this rekindled friendship may be short-lived, however, as the rift between the brothers remains present.
A royal source said: “We must remember that amid the intense grief of a nation there is, at its heart, a family in mourning. It is undeniable that there are certain factions within the family.
"However, it was the Prince of Wales’s firmly held belief that the passing of his grandmother should be a period of togetherness.
"That said, there remains a great sense of distrust in the air and for that to dissipate there needs to be some major reconciliation on the part of those making the most noise.
"Until that is forthcoming, then there may be little point taking things any further.”
Outside of the powerful reconciliation in London, William and Harry have kept themselves apart since the sad news broke about their grandmother's passing on Thursday.
Far from the unified spirit that the public saw in Windsor, Prince Harry spent the first two days following his grandmother's death isolated from his brother and father, as he travelled to Balmoral alone while Prince William travelled in a convoy with other senior royals.
Harry also dined separately from his brother the evening of the Queen's death and travelled back to London alone the morning after.
The Duke of Sussex was coincidentally in Europe with his wife Meghan Markle when he got the news that the late Queen was gravely ill at Thursday lunchtime, so joined his family members in rushing to her side.
The LA-based couple were on a visit to Germany when they received the news, so swiftly returned to the UK as other senior royals, including Harry's brother William, journeyed to Balmoral.
It was initially reported that Meghan would travel with Harry to Scotland after cancelling their appearance at a the Child Awards charity event in London that evening, but this stance was swiftly clarified as the couple's spokesperson confirmed that Harry would be travelling alone shortly after.
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Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, was also staying at home in Windsor to look after her children, as it was their first day back at school for the September term.
When the news that Prince Harry would be joined by his wife Meghan to Balmoral hit the headlines, King Charles reportedly strongly advised the Duke of Sussex not to bring the Duchess to his grandmother's sickbed.
"Charles told Harry that it wasn't right or appropriate for Meghan to be in Balmoral at such a deeply sad time", a source told The Sun.
"It was pointed out to him that Kate was not going and that the numbers really should be limited to the very closest family.
"Charles made it very, very clear Meghan would not be welcome".
Further adding tensions between the brothers, The Telegraph reported that Prince Harry was not initially summoned to Balmoral when other senior royals, including Prince William, made their way to the Scottish estate, citing constitutional reasons.
Tragically, neither brothers managed to see their grandmother for a final time before she sadly passed away on Thursday afternoon. But instead of consoling each other during a time of deep sorrow, William and Harry kept themselves distant, as the Duke of Sussex dined alone that fateful Thursday evening.
Daily Mail columnist Richard Kay reports that Harry didn't see Prince William at all that evening, as the Prince of Wales had already retreated to Charles' home on the estate by the time the Duke of Sussex arrived.
The two brothers therefore ate dinner apart, as Prince William dined with his father, the new King Charles, and Prince Harry ate separately.
Kay claimed: “Two dinners were being hosted on the royal estate that night and there was a clear divide: one was for the new king and his heir, the other was for the rest of the family.”
Mourning Prince Harry left his grandmother's Highlands estate just as he arrived: alone. In a moment of candid warmth, the Duke of Sussex put his arm around the shoulder of an airport worker who had expressed her sympathy while joining him on the airport tarmac.
Commenting on the short-lived reconciliation between William and Harry, Royal expert Ingrid Steward recently told The Mirror : "William, as the elder brother and more senior royal, held out the olive branch to his younger brother. But the fact they put pettiness aside doesn’t mean they have reconciled – or that they will.
"I don’t think there was ever a lot of love between them. They always had their differences, a rivalry. We assumed they lived in each other’s pockets but that was an illusion.
"I believe there is a fundamental personality clash – they are quite different. I remember Harry saying once that after William came back from his gap year, he liked him a lot better than he did before.
"William was the favoured son, the heir, the important one. Harry was the also-ran – Princesses Anne and Margaret have talked about how that feels as a child. The number two, in a hierarchy like the monarchy, is not always a great place to be".
Prince Harry's stark isolation from his brother since his return to the UK has sparked further rumours that the brother's relationship remains fraught - even in times of deep sorrow.
Prince Charles offered an olive branch of his own on the evening following his beloved mother's death, as he directly addressed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in his first speech as sovereign.
"I want also to express my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives overseas," he told the nation, after confirming that his other son William will take his previously held title, Prince of Wales.
Both brothers have released separate heart-wrenching statements to honour their grandmother since her passing, with William's words being released on Saturday and Harry's the day after.
William spoke emotionally about his grandmother's unrelenting support when he wrote: "She was by my side at my happiest moments. And she was by my side during the saddest days of my life.
"I knew this day would come, but it will be some time before the reality of life without Grannie will truly feel real."
Harry's words were equally heartfelt, as he wrote "Granny, while this final parting brings us great sadness, I am forever grateful for all of our first meetings.
"You are already sorely missed, not just by us, but by the world over."
Royal analysts have pointed out that both brothers spelled their nickname for their beloved grandmother differently in their statements.
William and Harry have not met since their short reunion at Windsor Castle - their fraught relationship remains tense as the Prince of Wales nervously anticipates his brother's explosive memoir, due to be released this November.
Commenting after the Windsor walkabout, Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, previously told the Mirror : "Over the coming days, we should see further unity, but no huggy stuff and nothing to detract from Charles’s smooth succession to the throne.
"I’m sure the Queen hoped this would happen. She wouldn’t have liked how it detracted from the business of the monarchy. It was getting to be a bit like the War of Waleses in the 1990s.
"None of us knows their true feelings but we don’t have to. Let’s be happy for them and for the nation – and keep our fingers crossed."
