Saturday 4 June 2022 08:58 AM Millions waited for a sign of reconciliation between the estranged princes. So ... trends now
For a moment it was a glimpse of what might have been: Harry and Meghan strolling hand in hand down the aisle of St Paul's, the eyes of the world on their every step.
However, when they arrived at their allotted places, they turned not to the box office seats at the front but shuffled instead into a second row with the also-rans of the Royal Family.
There they waited, exchanging small talk with Harry's cousins as the real stars of the show arrived, William and Kate accompanying Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.
As a piece of theatre, it was compelling. But while this was the public reality of Harry's slide down the royal pecking order, it was overshadowed by the one thing the watching millions were longing for – a sign, however simple, that two brothers who were once so close they could finish each other's sentences could patch up their differences. Sadly that sign did not come.
Perhaps a service of national thanksgiving was never going to be the most appropriate venue. But if not then, when?
'However, when they arrived at their allotted places, they turned not to the box office seats at the front but shuffled instead into a second row with the also-rans of the Royal Family'
It is more than two years since Harry and Meghan's final outing as frontline royals at a Commonwealth service
'The brothers last saw each other in July for the unveiling of a statue of their mother where their chilliness was hard to disguise – until yesterday'
'The tragedy of it all was that separately, and with their wives, Harry and William were radiating goodwill – two Prince Charmings who were charming to everyone, it seemed, but to each other'
If sheer physical distance ruled out a handshake, embrace or the briefest of chats, then surely a nod or a smile or even a thumbs-up would not have been impossible. Prince Charles gave ample demonstration of what could be achieved when he blew an affectionate kiss at daughter-in-law Kate.
The tragedy of it all was that separately, and with their wives, Harry and William were radiating goodwill – two Prince Charmings who were charming to everyone, it seemed, but to each other.
It is more than two years since Harry and Meghan's final outing as frontline royals at a Commonwealth service at Westminster Abbey when the depth of the rift between the princes was startlingly clear – where they were barely able to look at each other, let alone speak.
Since that glacial moment, things have only worsened. From their Oprah Winfrey sit-down to interviews with US TV networks and friendly podcasts, they have launched attack after attack on the royals and the monarchy.
Their incendiary 'truth bombs' to Oprah included claims that a senior member of the family was racist, that Buckingham Palace ignored Meghan when she was suicidal during her first pregnancy and that Prince Charles had cut Harry off financially.
Such was the fallout that William was forced to angrily defend the Royal Family publicly against the accusations of racism.
The brothers last saw each other in July for the unveiling of a statue of their mother where their chilliness was hard to disguise – until yesterday.
'If sheer physical distance ruled out a handshake, embrace or the briefest of chats, then surely a nod or a smile or even a thumbs-up would not have been impossible'
'So yesterday the focus shifted to St Paul's, the cathedral where 41 years ago their parents married and surely a perfect location for a royal reconciliation'
'On Thursday Harry and Meghan's studied efforts to avoid the limelight during the Trooping the Colour ceremony, where they were reduced to mere spectators, was perplexing'
