UNITED IN GRIEF
Kate Middleton acts as peacemaker as Prince Harry & William share private chat leaving Philip’s emotional funeral
KATE Middleton today acted as a peacemaker between Prince Harry and William as they shared a private chat while walking away from Prince Philip's emotional funeral.
The tender reunion between the brothers was the first time they have seen each other face-to-face in more than a year after Harry quit the UK.
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And after the emotional service, Harry was seen talking with William and the Duchess of Cambridge as the group left the moving funeral.
William has previously called his wife the "peacemaker" between the brothers - and today Kate stepped back to allow the pair to speak.
A royal source said: “It looked like a conciliatory move by William to wait for Harry and allow him to catch up and chat to him and Kate. That could be a significant moment.
“Harry appeared grateful for the opportunity, and Kate seemed to make a point of letting the brothers walk alone together, having briefly chatted to Harry as well.
“They have a lot to iron out and you would hope they continued their conversation back at Windsor Castle
“It was only a few minutes in front of the cameras but it was warm and cordial. It appeared Charles paused and looked back to his sons together.
“It is believed they have spoken on the phone since Harry flew back to the UK. They have so much to speak about.
It comes as...
- Prince William requested that Peter Phillips stand between him and his brother on the way to Prince Philip’s funeral, it has been claimed.
- Prince Charles has plans to take Prince Harry for a walk around Windsor to look at tributes for the Duke of Edinburgh.
- Meghan Markle left a handwritten note to Prince Philip
- The Duchess of Sussex watched the funeral from the US after not being able to fly to the UK for the service
- The Duke of Edinburgh's coffin was lowered into the Royal Vault
“Funerals have the ability to bring people together and I am sure that it would have warmed the heart of Prince Philip, if he could have seen that brief coming together.”
The decision for the family to walk back to the castle and forgo the state cars waiting for them is thought to have been made on the spur of the moment.
The brothers walked together for several minutes, moments after watching their grandfather's coffin lowered into the vault in emotional scenes at St George's Chapel.
After filing out of the service, they bowed to the Queen as she was driven away in her Bentley, before Harry and Kate struck up a conversation.
As the mourners left the chapel, William was then seen hanging back to let Harry and Kate catch up to him.
The princes strode side by side, with Kate on Harry's right - with all three talking to each other.
Harry and William then walked slightly ahead of the Duchess and looked deep in conversation, glancing at each other while they chatted.
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Today marked the first time Prince Harry has been seen in the UK since his bombshell interview alongside Meghan Markle.
The pair's claims about royal life strained his already fraught relationship with Prince William further.
But after he rushed over to the UK following Philip's death, Harry joined the 29 other mourners chosen to attend the stripped back service at 3pm.
He has spent the past week isolating at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor grounds, after flying in from LA last Sunday.
At the start of the funeral the brothers walked stoically behind the coffin, with their cousin Peter Phillips separating them.
Peter hung back to allow the pair to walk slightly ahead with bowed heads.
FAMILY'S FAREWELL
Harry then stood behind William as the group halted in the chapel while the coffin was gently put down over the vault.
Prince William, Kate Middleton and Prince Charles were earlier pictured arriving for the funeral.
Kate was dressed all in black with a netted veil covering her face mask.
She also wore a stunning pearl necklace belonging to the Queen, and drop earrings.
William looked sombre in a black suit and black tie, teamed with a face mask.
At 2.45pm, the Band of the Grenadier Guards, followed by the Major General commanding the Household Division, lead the procession.
Philip's children, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Prince Charles formed one group.
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Prince William and Harry walked behind them, separated during the eight-minute procession by their cousin Peter at the request of the Queen.
The once-close pair have not been seen together at a public engagement since March last year as tensions bubbled over.
But ahead of the funeral the pair say they want the day to be about Philip, rather than their dispute.
One insider said: "To be fair, both William and Harry have made clear that they wish to focus on mourning their grandfather and do not want anything to get in the way of that.
"But it has made everyone doubly nervous about saying anything that could be remotely construed of being critical of the other side. It’s been a minefield."
Buckingham Palace confirmed the final details of Philip's funeral earlier this week, but said they would not be "drawn into perceptions and drama".
Peter is mediator
By Michael Hamilton
THE Queen’s oldest grandson Peter Phillips played the vital role of mediator yesterday as he walked between warring Princes William and Harry in the funeral procession.
Peter, 43, took his place between his two younger cousins after sources said he agreed his role with the Queen when he spoke to her to offer condolences.
The businessman was chosen as a “safe pair of hands” and someone who would defuse tension, royal sources said.
Peter and younger sister Zara Tindall, 39, are still close to William, 38, and Harry, 36, staying pals with both.
A royal source said: “Her Majesty mentioned Peter’s role to him and he was happy to agree. He was the safe pair of hands she was looking for.
“He is the older cousin, and William and Harry look up to him.”
Peter, the son of Princess Anne and Capt Mark Phillips, is 17th in line to the throne.
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A spokesman added: "The arrangements have been agreed and represent Her Majesty's wishes.
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"All of the arrangements have been signed off by Her Majesty.
"All the arrangements are being done to meet with the Duke's wishes and Her Majesty making the final decision."
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Poignant moment Kate Middleton pauses and bows head as mark of respect at Philip's funeral
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