Princes William and Harry will be “dignified” as they reunite at Thursday’s unveiling of the Princess Diana memorial amid their long-running rift, sources who know them both say.
However, it’s not believed that the brothers will have time to have a heart-to-heart before Harry heads back to the US following the event, Page Six is told.
They will meet up at Kensington Palace, where they lived with their mother as young boys, to unveil a statue dedicated to her upon her 60th birthday.
There will be just 15 guests at the event due to COVID protocols, including Diana’s sisters, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes, and her brother, Charles, Earl Spencer.
While a royal source said the event could be “sad and a little strained,” another told us they expect the brothers to be dignified for the sake of their mother.
“The boys will be fine,” the source said.
We’re told it will only be a brief event, with other guests including members of the statue committee, the sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley and the garden designer Pip Morrison.
Despite reports, this will leave the brothers no time to have any private meeting, particularly with the media just steps away, it was pointed out.
Diana’s former chief of staff Patrick Jephson told us the statue unveiling is sure to “inspire feelings of love” for their mother, who died in 1997.
“The princes were still young when they lost their mother, and the depth of emotion they feel in remembering her can only be imagined,” Jephson said. “To their credit, they have said that they hope the statue will remind us of her positive impact on the world. That’s certainly worth celebrating so, alongside sadness, we can be sure the unveiling will inspire happier feelings of love for an irreplaceable parent, and pride in her enduring legacy.”
It’s not yet known when Harry, 36, will return home to California to wife Meghan Markle, son Archie and newborn daughter Lilibet, but he is not believed to want to stay away too long.
On Wednesday, Harry was a surprise guest at the WellChild Awards at Kew Gardens after leaving self-isolation following five days in quarantine at Frogmore Cottage, his UK home.
The Duke of Sussex, who landed in the UK on Friday, was allowed to leave his Windsor home after testing negative for coronavirus.
The WellChild event, which celebrates inspirational young people living with serious illnesses, was originally scheduled for September, but the organizers changed the date to allow Harry — the charity’s patron since 2007 — to attend.
A source told the Sun: “WellChild is a charity that is very close to Harry’s heart and the organizers have moved heaven and earth to make this happen.
“His attendance was kept a complete secret and it was an amazing moment when he surprised those in attendance.
“Harry made sure he spent time talking to as many of the children and their families as possible — as well as caregivers who were present at the ceremony.”
As we reported, 39-year-old William, his wife, Kate Middleton — who will not be at the event — and their three children will tour the memorial privately ahead of the unveiling.
William and Harry expected to have a 'dignified' reunion amid rift - Page Six
Read More
No comments:
Post a Comment