The unexpected meeting of the brothers from the British royal house gave hope to many Brits after William sent Harry a text message and asked if he and Meghan wanted to see the flowers left for the Queen in Windsor. It turns out that the meeting was not ordered by King Charles III
For 45 minutes, the two couples moved through the crowds, shaking hands, receiving condolences and placing flowers on the growing pile of flowers while thanking the public for their kindness. It was, of course, a powerful echo of similar images from 25 years ago, when their mother Princess Diana was killed in an accident, the siblings greeted mourners outside Kensington Palace. The Daily Mail reported that William sent a text message to his brother Harry asking him if he would like to go for a walk together. Contrary to reports that this was a request from their father the king.
The British were mesmerized by the images of the two couples walking together along the boulevard and talking to citizens who had come to offer their condolences on the death of their grandmother. The two couples were until the last days in a kind of war, Harry and Meghan left Britain for the USA, after Meghan claimed inappropriate treatment of her, and complained of racism towards her by the palace people. But last Saturday, the couples walked together in a scene that reminded many of the brothers receiving condolences From thousands of Britons who came to comfort them after their mother died in an accident.
The question last night was whether this rare moment of unity promises anything more than mere symbolism. Is this indeed a reconciliation or the beginning of one, or was it simply a truce? The initiative was Prince William’s but she obliged Harry to agree. And that in itself is definitely a breakthrough. Both are stubborn and both accused the other of alienation. This is what the British say.
Her Majesty The Queen’s coffin has arrived at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, where it will rest in the Throne Room until tomorrow afternoon. pic.twitter.com/5jMZmeNsdt
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 11, 2022
The Daily Mail notes that during the funeral of the late Queen’s husband, Prince Philip, in April last year, the brothers were called to try to reconcile their differences. And there was hope, but they were photographed leaving St George’s Chapel side by side to return to the castle, and they parted ways. But the trip on Saturday may herald changes in the relations between the brothers or it is just a temporary respite from the quarrels between them. But the pictures of the couples walking together broke the hearts of Britons who hope that there might be a chance for peace.
For many, seeing the couple walking together again while examining the flowers and talking to the crowds is the necessary proof that they are indeed reconciled. This, of course, is the miracle of royalty.
What then are the chances of reconciliation? Not easy, but not impossible, “The problem is,” a source told the Daily Mail, “that they barely spoke to each other for over two years and there is both anger and sorrow about all of this on both sides.” Each expects the other to apologize. If their grandmother’s death continues to be a salve for these two warring princes, it will take more than texting each other to get a proper rapprochement.
At the moment, the closest analogy to the events of the last few days is that of soldiers on the Western Front in the First World War when they held their own ceasefire with the enemy on Christmas Day to play football. After the game these soldiers returned to their trenches and continued fighting.
For the new king such a chance existed, he may not have ordered his sons to gather together on Shabbat but it was his heart’s desire. The “Daily Mail” reports that he spoke with both during the day after his coronation. “His view, basically, is to sort it out, he hates any kind of conflict, he does see this period of mourning as an opportunity for his sons,” says the source.