Prince William and Prince Harry had dinner together after receiving Queen's coffin at Buckingham Palace
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: Thousands of mourners lined the path for Queen Elizabeth II's final journey back to London as the coffin arrived at Buckingham Palace to their heartfelt applause. The monarch was flown to RAF Notholt from Edinburgh before her coffin arrived in London. After receiving the Queen's coffin on Tuesday evening, September 13, Prince William and Prince Harry sat down for dinner with other members of the royal family.
Page Six reported the brothers' attendance at the family dinner at Buckingham Palace. Prince William and Prince Harry's wives Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, reportedly joined them for the private dinner as well. Prior to the meal, the Duke and Dutchess of Sussex received the Queen's coffin as it arrived at Buckingham Palace from Scotland, where the British monarch died at the age of 96.
READ MORE
Princess Margaret's son Lord Snowdon will join cousins to pay last respects to the Queen
Markle, 41, and Harry, 37, appeared solemn as they entered the palace gates in a black sedan as the Queen's casket was being transported in a hearse from Scotland. William and Middleton, both 40, were also present along with Camilla, Queen Consort, and King Charles III, who succeeded his mother as monarch of the UK and the Commonwealth.
The passing of Queen Elizabeth may have made it possible for Prince William and Prince Harry to put the differences between their families behind them. The brothers and their spouses, Middleton and Markle, paid tribute to the Queen by sending flowers to Windsor Castle over the weekend.
The visit by the four of them was notable because it was their first time coming together in the open since March 2020's Commonwealth Day. Page Six reported at the time that Prince William had extended an invitation to Prince Harry and Markle to accompany him and Middleton on the Windsor walkabout. "We are all very grateful — both sides putting all things aside for the Queen," a source said.
Ever since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex withdrew from their royal duties and relocated to California in 2020, friction between the brothers has been at an all-time high. Further, the tension between the two heated up after the Sussexes' shocking interview with Oprah Winfrey where they opened up about the challenges of being a member of the royal family.
In the interview, Markle said that a royal expressed concern about the skin tone of her and Harry's child Archie. She further asserted that when she disclosed having suicidal thoughts, "the firm" did nothing. In response to allegations that she and Middleton were at odds, Markle said that the Princess of Wales had made Middleton cry days before the wedding, despite other rumors claiming that Middleton had been moved to tears by Markle.
Winfrey, a close confidant of Markle, recently commented on the family conflict stating that there will undoubtedly be an "opportunity for peacemaking" following the Queen's passing. "When all families come together for a common ceremony, the ritual of, you know, burying your dead, there's an opportunity for peacemaking," Oprah said to Extra. "Hopefully, there will be that."