Queen Elizabeth († 96)
William, Harry and Andrew should be brought to the royal line at the funeral
At the funeral procession for Prince Philip († 99), Prince William and Prince Harry were “separated” from their cousin Peter Phillips. The scandal-ridden Prince Andrew, together with his brothers and sister, was allowed to lead the grieving royals despite his headlines.
© Samir Hussein / Getty Images
For all the sadness, could Queen Elizabeth’s death do something good within the royal family? Buckingham Palace plans indicate that three “issues” at the Queen’s funeral will be put back on track in various respects.
Can a rapprochement be forced between Prince William, 40, and his estranged brother Prince Harry, 37, in grief? The palace hopes for at least a ceasefire – and this is to be brought about with a symbolic measure on the occasion of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth, † 96. Prince Andrew, 62, is also to be reintegrated into the ranks of the Royals after the scandalous headlines surrounding his alleged involvement in the Epstein scandal.
Queen Elizabeth († 96): Can grief reconcile the two grandchildren?
The Queen’s death was unexpected. Only her eldest children, King Charles III, 73, and Princess Anne, 72, saw her alive and stood by her side as she took her last breath. Even as reports broke that members of the royal family were rushing to Balmoral because of the deteriorating condition of the head of the family, the media speculated that William and his brother would be reconciled on their deathbeds. Neither made it in time and Harry’s untimely departure from Scotland did not suggest a fraternal union in grief.
The whole world mourns the queen
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A short time later, observers interpreted William’s invitation to the younger man and his wife Duchess Meghan, 41, to Windsor Castle as an olive branch, the symbol of peace. The former Fab Four gathered there on Saturday, September 10, 2022 to share a look at the flowers laid and messages of condolence.
Now the king’s brothers are supposed to get even closer. According to The Sun, they could walk side by side behind her coffin in the procession for the Queen’s funeral on September 19, 2022. A step forward: At Prince Philip’s funeral in April 2021, her cousin Peter Phillips, 44, separated the estranged siblings and ran between the two.
“They can coexist”
“We’re certainly not in the same place as Philip’s funeral when William and Harry didn’t walk side by side. Things haven’t changed but it’s not as intense anymore and they can coexist,” a source told the UK Newspaper. In short: the joint appearance of the Cambridges with the Sussexes at Windsor Castle last weekend was probably just a truce. “The flower visit really doesn’t change anything. It’s the same situation as Prince Philip’s funeral, when William and Harry put their differences aside and were supportive of each other and their families at that moment,” the source said.
As long as Harry’s much-heralded memoirs are not published and Meghan continues to reveal private details in her “Archetypes” podcast, the truce after the official mourning period for the queen should be in question. There is too much between the siblings.
Prince Andrew is visible again
And what about Prince Andrew? The Queen’s second son has also fallen out of favor with his siblings in recent months. Most recently, a lawsuit brought against him by the American Virginia Giuffre, 38, caused more than just a frown among the relatives. She claims the Queen’s alleged favorite son sexually abused her on several occasions when she was just 17. Allegations that the 62-year-old vehemently denies to this day. Nevertheless, his mother took the consequences during her lifetime: Andrew had to resign as Senior Royal, his military titles and patronage as well as all financial support from the family were withdrawn from him. The fact that he had gotten away with an out-of-court financial settlement with a black eye did not change that.
The ban from public life was initially put on hold with the grief for his mother. The scandal-ridden Duke of York became visible again on Sunday. Together with his siblings Princess Anne and Prince Edward, 58, he awaited the arrival of the coffin with the remains of his mother outside Holyroodhouse Palace in Edinburgh. At the funeral, too, the twilight Royal should be allowed to accompany the Queen’s coffin during the planned procession with his siblings.
But here, too, there remains a slight doubt as to whether the time of family and global mourning for a queen of the century can simply make us forget what happened. The future will show.
Source used: thesun.co.uk