"Prince Harry Reportedly Attends Funeral with Brother William in Secret"

The Duke of Sussex reportedly joined the Prince of Wales at a service in Norfolk for their uncle, Lord Fellowes.

It is reported that both Princes William and Harry attended the funeral of their uncle, Lord Fellowes.

The Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex reportedly attended the funeral of their uncle, Lord Fellowes, marking their first time together in the same room this year. The service took place at St Mary’s Church in Snettisham, Norfolk, where Princes William and Harry came to support their aunt and the Spencer family.

Lord Fellowes, who had served as private secretary to the late Queen Elizabeth II, passed away last month at the age of 82. He was married to Lady Jane Spencer, the sister of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Although sources close to Prince Harry previously suggested he might not attend due to ongoing security concerns, The Sun reported that both brothers were present, though they did not appear to speak.

Kensington Palace did not comment on the private family matter, and the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has yet to respond to requests for comment.

  

Lord Fellowes, pictured in 2013, passed away last month Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Prince William and Harry have not been seen together publicly since the King’s Coronation in 2023. Prior to that, they made a joint appearance with their wives for a walkabout following the death of their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and attended her funeral.

The brothers are reportedly not on speaking terms, with a longstanding rift fueled by the Sussexes' numerous public disclosures about the Royal family. They did not meet during Harry's earlier visit to the UK this year for an Invictus Games anniversary service, nor during his brief 30-minute visit with King Charles following his cancer diagnosis.

Lady Fellowes, a member of the Spencer family, attended the Invictus service at St Paul’s Cathedral in support of Prince Harry.

According to the Sun newspaper, both princes were present at Lord Fellowes' funeral service. A family friend confirmed their attendance, but it was noted that the brothers did not interact and maintained their distance, arriving discreetly and sitting at the back of the church.

One local observer stated, “William and Harry were both there, but we never saw them speak to each other, and they were keeping their distance.”

Lord Fellowes, who passed away on July 29 at the age of 82, served as private secretary to Queen Elizabeth II for nine years and played a crucial role in guiding the Royal family through some of its most challenging times. In a rare interview published in The Telegraph in 2008, it was noted, “Few know more about the Royal family than Robert Fellowes, and few have said less.”

Earl Spencer paid tribute to his brother-in-law, saying, “My absolutely exceptional brother-in-law Robert is no longer with us. A total gentleman, in all the best meanings of that word, he was a man of humour, wisdom, and utter integrity. I’m deeply proud to have been his brother-in-law.”

Prince Harry’s recent trip to the UK marks his third visit this year, following a short stay with his father in February and his Invictus Games visit. He has also undertaken brief tours to Nigeria and Colombia with the Duchess of Sussex.

The ongoing dispute over his security arrangements has prevented the Duke from bringing his wife and children to Britain. Under the current agreement, which he is appealing, he must give 28 days' notice of his plans, with specialist Met Police protection provided only during public duties.

During his last visit to London, Prince Harry reportedly declined an offer to stay at Buckingham Palace, citing concerns about the risk of staying at such a high-profile location without royal protection while traveling in and out.

Some may view the brothers' attendance at the funeral as a potential step towards reconciliation, as well as a demonstration of their individual support for their widowed aunt.