Prince Harry and Prince William Avoid Each Other at Uncle’s Funeral in Surprise Joint Appearance: Report

PEOPLE previously understood that Harry would not be attending the service amid his security concerns in the U.K.

Prince Harry and Prince William both attended their uncle Lord Robert Fellowes’ funeral amid their rift. However, they reportedly avoided one another while there.

Harry, 39, and William, 42, went to the service at St. Mary’s Church in Snettisham, Norfolk, on Wednesday, Aug. 28, according to The Sun. Lord Fellowes, the brother-in-law of the princes’ late mother Princess Diana, died on July 29 of undisclosed causes. He was 82.

PEOPLE previously understood that the Duke of Sussex was not attending his uncle’s funeral amid his security issues in the U.K.

A family friend said they were “very happy to confirm both princes were there,” per The Sun. They reportedly both sat in the back but did not sit near one another.

A separate source told The Sun they didn’t know Harry and the Prince of Wales were there until they saw the princes after the service, adding, “They arrived very discreetly.”

“William and Harry were both there but we never saw them speak to each other and they were keeping their distance,” another attendee added, according to The Sun.

Sources previously told PEOPLE that Harry’s attempts to connect with his brother — through texts, calls, and messages — are ignored.
The rift with Prince William is “very bad,” said a royal insider, but it’s not “irreparable.”

It’s been widely reported that the discord between Harry and William began in 2016 after William expressed concerns about how quickly Harry was moving in his relationship with Meghan Markle. The tension was first publicized in 2020 when Harry and Meghan, who wed in 2018, announced their exit from royal duties.

The last time Harry and William publicly reunited was in May 2023 at King Charles’ coronation. However, the brothers reportedly did not interact with one another there either.

Most recently, Harry and King Charles were said to have had a positive meeting in February after King Charles’ cancer diagnosis. However, communication since then has reportedly deteriorated. Harry’s close friends previously said that King Charles is no longer taking his calls.

At the same time, Harry is said to have concerns over the safety of Meghan and their children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3, and according to sources, has repeatedly asked his father for help.