As crowds outside Windsor Castle on Saturday shook at the sight of the surprise new Prince and Princess of Wales stepping out of their car accompanied by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, fears that family splits would mark the last farewell to the queen immediately disbanded. As the four looked at the mountain of flowers outside the castle, their body language was almost identical. The brothers stood solemnly, their heads bowed. the women, with their hands placed on their husbands’ backs in polite support. They walked in silence, Harry holding Megan’s hand in his for most of the time. There may not have been much conversation between the couples, but this was a moment for silent contemplation, not chitchat. And when it came to thanking and shaking the hands of the assembled well-wishers, logistics kept them separate, with the Welsh working on one side and the Sussexes working on the other. But alongside the King’s warm words in his first address to the nation, when he expressed “my love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives abroad”, the significance of this very public gesture should not be underestimated . And it was needed. The sight of William arriving at Balmoral with the Duke of York and the Earl and Countess of Wessex, while Harry arrived alone nearly two hours after the Queen’s death was announced, did nothing to dampen reports of rifts between the sometimes close siblings. A source said the decision to extend the olive branch was made by the Prince of Wales, who wanted to invite the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to join him and the Princess of Wales. He first discussed it with the King, who thought it was an important show of unity. It was an invitation that the Sussexes, who were outspoken critics of the royal family and court life, intended to accept. This meant that the route was delayed by around 45 minutes while they were getting ready. Shortly before Windsor’s appearance, William had paid his own touching tribute to ‘Granny’, saying: ‘She was by my side in my happiest moments. And he was by my side during the saddest days of my life.” Although pressed on the matter, Buckingham Palace officials have so far not clarified whether Harry and Meghan’s children, Archie and Lilybet, will be designated as a prince and princess with HRH titles, as protocol would normally allow grandchildren of the sovereign. According to the line of succession updated on the royal family’s website, although they have risen to sixth and seventh in line to the throne, they continue to be known as ‘Master’ and ‘Miss’ for now.
