Was the rapprochement between Princes William and Harry when they unveiled the statue of their mother, Princess Diana, for real or just for the cameras? That remains to be seen, but those hopeful for a reconciliation between the two brothers will be encouraged by the scenes at Kensington Palace today.
The brothers met for the first time in public since the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral in April to unveil the larger than life statue of their mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, on what would have been her 60th birthday.
The statue, which was commissioned by the brothers in 2017, stands in Kensington Palace’s Sunken Garden, and was erected in a private ceremony this afternoon.
Harry, who lives in the US with his wife, Meghan, and their two children, arrived in the UK last week ahead of today’s event and has been self-isolating at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.
Also present were other members of Diana’s family, including her brother, Earl Spencer, and the sculptor, Ian Rank-Broakley.
The event comes after a turbulent couple of years for the brothers, who have barely spoken following Harry’s decision to quit as a working member of the royal family 18 months ago.
Tensions have escalated since the Sussexes’ explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in March, and subsequent ill-tempered outbursts by Harry against his family.
Yet the two brothers appeared to put their differences behind them today, smiling and chatting with one another as they greeted guests. Let’s hope it’s for real.
