Prince Harry and Prince William ‘will wear the same suits’ for Philip’s funeral to avoid rift, royal expert says
PRINCE William and Prince Harry will wear the same suits for their grandfather's funeral on Saturday to avoid a "rift", a royal expert has said.
The Duke of Sussex is expected to dress in a suit for the service after he was stripped of his honorary military titles in Megxit.
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Prince William could wear his military uniform at the ceremonial service for Philip.
His active service with the armed forces ended in September 2013, however senior royals are treated as military members.
William also holds a number of ceremonial roles including Colonel of the Irish Guards and Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Navy Submarine Service.
But Richard Fitzwilliams said it was more likely he would wear a suit to avoid contrasting with Harry.
"This is obviously very sensitive," Mr Fitzwilliams said.
"Anything that distinguished the brothers in that way, which would be so obvious for anyone watching, would probably be avoided.
"The whole thing we do not want is any form of rift.
It comes as:
- Prince Philip thought Meghan and Harry's Oprah interview was "madness", it's claimed
- The Queen went to church and walked her corgi puppies on her first Sunday without her beloved husband
- Prince Harry has arrived back in the UK alone after medics advised his pregnant wife not to travel
- The Duke of Sussex may be expected to not wear his military uniform at the funeral - although his brother will
- Just 30 mourners will attend the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral - with Mike Tindall, Princess Alexandra and the Earl of Snowdon likely to be among those invited
"I'd suggest it would be handled in such a way as it goes totally smoothly without a hitch, and there are no issues.
"My opinion is that they would do everything possible to make sure that the spotlight on this very, very important day is where it should be, and that's on truly remarkable achievements of someone with superhuman energy who did so much for Queen and country."
Harry’s positions as Captain General of the Royal Marines, Honorary Air Commandant of RAF Honington and Commodore-in-Chief, Small Ships and Diving
However, while he could could wear a suit for the funeral - and cannot wear a uniform that corresponds with his previous positions in the forces - it's possible he'll instead wear a basic military uniform after his years of service.
Harry - who served in the Army for ten years, completed two tours of Afghanistan and was promoted to captain - was understood to be deeply upset by the decision to remove his titles.
He has now returned to the UK alone for the ceremony after his pregnant wife Meghan Markle was advised not to travel.
The Duke was seen getting off a British Airways flight from Los Angeles that arrived at Heathrow at 1.15pm yesterday.
BROTHERS 'WILL DRESS THE SAME FOR FUNERAL'
And his grandfather's funeral will be his first ceremonial event since he and Meghan departed for the US.
But it was suggested that, while Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Edward would be expected to wear their ceremonial outfits for the service, Harry and his uncle, Prince Andrew, would be likely to wear suits.
The Duke of York stepped back from public life "for the foreseeable future" in 2019 over his friendship with the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
However, Mr Fitzwilliams said the funeral will offer the family an opportunity for a "show of unity" after Harry and Meghan's "deeply damaging" Oprah interview.
Mr Fitzwilliams said: "Everybody knows there is an enormous amount of speculation, whatever happens on this issue.
"Relations between the brothers, we know perfectly well, are very strained."
And the expert hopes the funeral may mark a new chapter for William and Harry.
"It may be the beginning of the healing process," he said.
"The Royal Family can come together as family, and it is certainly absolutely essential they present united front.
"Achieving that after the Oprah interview and so forth will be quite a feat, but I am sure that, given the circumstances, and given the fact that both Harry and William were devoted to their grandfather, there is a very very good chance of achieving it."
He said details for the funeral - including the outfits mourners will wear - will have been planned to the smallest details.
"There has been no announcement at all on that, so as a result, we simply don't know," he said.
"But I'd suggest all these details are being thought out - down to the minutiae of them.
"There will not be a thing that isn't thought of."
One insider says the Royal Family has ordered a truce over the Oprah chat.
“Family conversations now will be on the passing of Prince Philip — and nothing else," they said.
“The Queen has declared royal mourning for two weeks so it’s quite clear that is the focus.
“Conversations will be private but the focus will be on emotional matters of dealing with a father and grandfather.”
And another source said Harry will be welcomed back home with open arms by his father.
“I’m sure Charles will be very happy to see him. It’s been more than a year now," they said.
The Queen must choose just 30 people to attend her beloved husband's funeral, which will take place entirely within the grounds of Windsor on April 17.
The initial list - which stretched to around 800 - has been massively cut back as a result of the Covid crisis.
It's expected the Queen and Duke's great-grandchildren - including Princess Charlotte and her brothers - will be considered too young to attend.
Boris Johnson will not attend the service to allow another member of the family to go in his place.
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The grandchildren's other spouses - Mike Tindall, Jack Brooksbank and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi - may attend to support their wives.
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The funeral will be televised, with a national minute-long silence at 3pm.
Charles, William and Harry will join the funeral procession - while Prince Philip's coffin will be carried to St George's Chapel in a specially-modified Land Rover.
What happened to Harry and Meghan's titles?
The couple were stripped of their honorary titles in February by the Queen after confirming they won't return as working members of the Royal Family.
The 94-year-old monarch said she was "saddened" by the decision.
In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed to Her Majesty The Queen that they will not be returning as working members of The Royal Family.
"Following conversations with The Duke, The Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of The Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service.
"The honorary military appointments and Royal patronages held by The Duke and Duchess will therefore be returned to Her Majesty, before being redistributed among working members of The Royal Family.
"While all are saddened by their decision, The Duke and Duchess remain much loved members of the family."
They continue to be known as Duke and Duchess of Sussex after being given the titles as a wedding gift at their 2018 nuptials at Windsor Castle.