The “Princess of Hearts” would have turned 60: In memory of their fatally injured mother Diana, Princes William and Harry commissioned a statue together.
London – The faces petrified, the gaze disciplined straight ahead: The way Princes William and Harry stepped behind the coffin of their mother Princess Diana in 1997 is one of the most impressive images of the British monarchy.
The bond between the two brothers, then 15 and still 12, was always tight, observers of the royals know. But when the two grandchildren of Queen Elizabeth II unveil a statue of their mother next Thursday (July 1st) on the 60th birthday of “Lady Di” in London, a trusty gang is probably just a staffage.
The relationship between the princes is – to put it mildly – tense. The British tabloid “Sun” speaks of the “warring brothers”. The rift within the royal family is said to be bigger than previously known, and the British press has long since identified the culprits: Harry, now 36, and his wife Duchess Meghan (39). Hardly a day goes by without new allegations against the Sussex couple, who broke their royal duties a year ago and emigrated to Meghan’s home USA with their son Archie (now 2 years old).
There had been hopes that the family would pull themselves together again. TV pictures showed how Harry and William (39) left the church chatting animatedly after the funeral of grandfather Prince Philip in April. Two hours later, the two are said to have sat together with William’s wife Kate (39) and father Charles (72), it was a clarifying conversation after the sensational TV interview by Harry and Meghan in March.
But now British papers are reporting that such a peace summit never took place. William and Kate would have seen no point in talking to Harry – so they fear that every word Meghan and her friends around US star presenter Oprah Winfrey – the “tentacles of the Sussex network” – will bring to the public, as Robert Lacey writes in his book “Battle of Brothers”, from which the “Times” quotes in advance.
The list of upsets is long: First and foremost is the interview with Oprah. British media reports that it was an act of revenge – according to which Harry is said to have agreed to the conversation just hours after Grandmother Elizabeth stripped him of his highly valued military honorary title because of leaving the royal family. Harry and Meghan spent hours on US television against the Royal Family and raised serious allegations of racism. Meghan reported on thoughts of suicide caused by the heavy pressures of living under constant public scrutiny. She received no help in the palace.
But the interview was just the beginning. Several times in the past few weeks Harry has complained loudly about life in the royal cage, criticized the lack of empathy by father Charles – and indirectly also by grandmother Elizabeth. The queen is also at the center of the latest fuss. In Great Britain, for example, it can be read that Harry and Meghan only informed the Queen and did not ask for permission that their newborn daughter would be called Lilibet – after the Queen’s family nickname. The Sussex couple, in turn, strongly opposed this portrayal.
The brothers’ joint appointment now offers an opportunity for reconciliation or discussion – although Harry, who has to isolate himself for several days after arrival due to the British corona entry rules, will be in England long enough to talk to brother William. Many Britons are likely to want such a reconciliation talk. For them, the accidental death of Diana, the “Queen of Hearts”, in the Paris road tunnel is still traumatic – also for Harry, who keeps talking about his mother. Diana was on the run from paparazzi at the time, and because of her divorce from Charles, she no longer had any state bodyguards at her side. Harry always refers to Diana’s fate when trying to explain the move from the agitated UK to the US.
But it is questionable whether the princes take the time. For the date on July 1, there is probably only one truce. They have a lot in common – their daughters are each named Diana by a first name. Above all, however, father Charles is said to be “not amused” about the behavior of his younger son. A meeting is allegedly not planned and would be difficult to do. Charles is said to be in Scotland, hundreds of kilometers from London. dpa
