Prince William and his wife, Kate, made a surprise joint appearance with Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, on Saturday, warmly greeting a large crowd gathered outside Windsor Castle to remember Queen Elizabeth II . Their outing, the first time the siblings have appeared together amicably in public since March 2020, comes at a time when the younger generation of Britain’s royal family must significantly increase their responsibilities. William, long second in line to the throne, is now heir apparent after his father, King Charles III, became Britain’s new monarch following his mother’s death. That means William and Kate, both 40 and parents of three young children, immediately take on a much more central role as the new face of the monarchy. William and Harry have had a rocky relationship since Harry stepped down from the royal family and moved to the US two years ago. Their show of unity on Saturday was reportedly initiated by William and left some observers hoping that Harry, 37, could return to the fray and support his older brother in sharing the heavy workload now shouldered of William. “Certainly, William and Catherine, as the new Prince and Princess of Wales, will be even more in the media spotlight if that’s possible,” said Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine. “Until Thursday, there was a buffer between him and the throne. This buffer has now been removed.” Analysis: In London, tale of two crowds on display as mourners honor beloved queen cast skeptical eyes on King Queen Elizabeth’s funeral will take place on September 19 It’s a stark contrast to how things were just two weeks ago, when William and Kate announced they were moving their family from central London to a more rural base in Windsor. Observers thought they were seeking more privacy and a more “normal” upbringing for their children, who just started the new year together at a private school. Long before he came to the throne, Charles indicated he wanted a “slimmed-down” monarchy with a tighter core of full-time royals and lower expenses. That was before Harry moved in – and before the prince’s uncle, Prince Andrew, was effectively banished from public life following sexual misconduct scandals. Not many other recognizable ‘working royals’ – members of the royal family who officially represent the monarch – were allowed to share in the hundreds of official engagements and numerous overseas visits made each year. The group includes Charles and his wife, Camilla, now the Queen Consort. William and Kate; the Queen’s only daughter, Princess Anne. and the Queen’s youngest child, Prince Edward, and his wife, Sophie. Also working royals, but far less well-known, are the Queen’s first cousin, Prince Richard and his wife, Birgit. In his first address to the nation, broadcast on Friday, Charles formally bestowed his own title, Prince of Wales, on William. Kate is now the Princess of Wales and is the first person since William’s late mother, Princess Diana, to hold the title. William and Kate also inherit Charles and Camilla’s other honorary titles, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall. This means managing and earning income from the Duchy of Cornwall, an estate that includes land across the UK and is worth £1 billion. “With Catherine at his side, our new Prince and Princess of Wales, I know, will continue to inspire and guide our national conversations, helping to bring the marginalized to the center where vital help can be given,” Charles said on Friday. . In his speech, Charles said he knows he won’t be able to devote as much time and energy to causes he cares about most, such as the environment and climate change. William will likely now spend more time defending these issues. He has already made his mark by founding the Earthshot Prize, an ambitious ‘legacy programme’ which is expected to award millions of pounds in grants to environmental initiatives over the next 10 years. “It will be some time before the reality of life without Grandma really feels real,” William wrote in a statement on Saturday. “I will honor her memory by supporting my father, the King, in every way.” Charles also spoke briefly about Harry in his address to the nation, expressing his “love for Harry and Meghan as they continue to build their lives abroad.” Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, left the UK to seek financial independence and freedom from the British media’s tight control over their lives. The couple has now settled in California with their two young children. Both Harry and Meghan have repeatedly expressed their displeasure with the royals since their departure. Those tensions were put aside on Saturday as the two princes and their wives arrived in the same car to greet people who pushed through barricades outside the gates of Windsor Castle. Each royal stopped to speak to children and adults alike, receiving flowers and condolences from an excited crowd. “It was so beautiful to see. I felt so touched and felt the Queen would have loved it,” said Banita Ranow, 28. Her mother, Baljinder, said the visit was “wonderful”. “I just hope in the future they stay that way and the brothers come together,” he said. The sight of Prince William, his wife, Kate, and Prince Harry and wife Meghan outside Windsor Castle may raise hopes that there has been a rapprochement between the siblings following the death of Queen Elizabeth. 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