Prince Harry and Prince William walking in lock step at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral has gone viral after the warring brothers reportedly passed up a new opportunity for reconciliation.
The Duke of Sussex and the Prince of Wales have not been on speaking terms for years following bombshell revelations and accusations from Harry and Meghan Markle.
The brothers both attended the memorial service of Sir Robert Fellowes, their uncle, in Snettisham, Norfolk, England, last week in what could have been a chance to reconnect.
However, they reportedly did not speak, leading one royal watcher to share footage on TikTok of the last time the two brothers walked side-by-side.
The clip showed William and Harry during the procession of Queen Elizabeth II's coffin after her funeral at Westminster Abbey, London, on September 19, 2022.
It was liked more than 43,000 times and viewed over 378,000 times in a day after it was posted with the message: "The rift between Prince William and Prince Harry appears to be unbridgeable, Prince William, is next in line, leaving his brother Harry on the sidelines.
"Despite being close during their childhood and teenage years, the looming pressure of the expectations of the crown has driven a wedge between the brothers. When one steps up, the other must step back."
At the time, it was felt that the queen's death had brought William and Harry back together after years of conflict.
The brothers stepped out with Princess Kate and Meghan to inspect floral tributes together at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, on September 10, two days after Elizabeth died.
However, any hopes the show of unity would pave the way for the end of the rift disintegrated when Harry's memoir, Spare, and Netflix show Harry & Meghan reignited the conflict just months later.
The prince's book detailed how William threw Harry into a dog bowl during a fight about Meghan, among other revelations.
Fellowes was close to both brothers as the husband of their maternal aunt Lady Jane Fellowes, a sister of Princess Diana. His memorial was at Snettisham, Norfolk, on Thursday, following an earlier private funeral for immediate family only.
The Reverend Dan Tansey, vicar at St. Mary's Church, told the U.K. news outlet Mail Online: "It was a lovely service and people wanted to be there for someone who was really well-respected in Snettisham.
"It was only as I was thanking the congregation as they left that Prince William was shaking my hand, and then very quickly after that, so did Prince Harry.
"It was a surprise but a really pleasant one that they had both come, but maybe less shocking that William was there," Tansey said.
"On the way out, they both said thank you for the service and I thanked them for coming. At the reception afterward, there was a very relaxed and cordial atmosphere.
"I don't recollect them speaking to each other, but there were a lot of family members and friends speaking to them," Tansey added.
"It would have meant a lot to Lord Fellowes to have them both at the service. He loved them both very much."
U.K. newspaper The Sun also reported that the William and Harry are not believed to have spoken to each other during the memorial service.
Jack Royston is Newsweek's chief royal correspondent based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.
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